Anyone Recognize This Signet Ring?

[paulrw]

This is an old signet ring I inherited from my step father many years ago.
I would like to identify the symbol on the ring before I smooth it down and have something else engraved on it.

 

[Terry Soloman]

It is military. What was his Unit, branch of service?

 

[paulrw]

It is military. What was his Unit, branch of service?

Norman was English and lived in England all his life, but did not serve in the military as far as I know. He served during WWII as a special constable, but his brother served lived and served overseas - either Rhodesia or Australia, not sure. Norman was a freemason.

I have seen a similar ring on-line made from 18 carat gold. It was owned by Lieutenant General Sir J Monash, AIF (Austraian). The face of that ring is impressed with a lion rampant holding a compass (lion is facing the opposite way). In a scroll below is the latin motto 'MARTE ET ARTE' [By war and arts]. These words are impressed in the reverse to enable the ring to be used as a seal. The inner band of the ring is stamped with a maker's mark and the carat.

 

[jewelerguy]

Looks to be engraved with the motto 'Dum Spiro Spero' which is Latin for 'While I breath, I hope'. The Wiki page lists some towns, families, and organizations that reference the motto. Some are from England, such as a prep school in Oxfordshire. Maybe you can find a connection to him on some of those listed..... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dum_spiro_spero#Families

 

[CRUSADER]

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RIn7gQ72ghw/UUMfOBszjbI/AAAAAAAAD78/O3uCZvhhepY/s1600/Inglis+[small].jpg
It's a family crest similar to the 'Inglis' family one above.

The words your looking for is its a 'Demi Lion facing left holding star in right paw over motto'.

Tracking down the family associated with this crest needs expert held that may cost money, its a minefield of possibilities. (even the background colours change the outcomes, which are not even present on a incised gold ring) Your family might narrow that search, assuming it was commissioned for him & not given to him from elsewhere.

 

[paulrw]

A "Thank you" goes out to Jewelerguy and Crusader - you have both been very helpful. I have the motto and the demi lion with star ... Norman's childhood is not well documented, but I do know he attended Stowe school in Buckinghamshire, and so the search continues :-)

I have found a link between Cothill preparatory school and Stowe school - Cothill students graduated to other private schools and Stowe was one of those listed. So there is a tenuous link here between the ring's motto 'Dum Spiro Spero' and Norman's early years ... he was a student at Stowe school so may well have been sent to Cothill boarding school first and picked up their motto there.