Antique ring with miniature portrait of William IV of Great Britain

The history of our continent is full of surprising connections. From the 18th to the beginning of the 19th century, for example, the King of Great Britain came from the German family of the Guelphs and was in one person both Elector, and later King of Hanover! The line of these British kings with German roots begins with George I and extends to William IV, king from 1830 to 1837. William, the last Hanoverian on the British throne, had long served in the Royal Navy and, unlike his predecessor on the throne, George IV, was popular and well-liked. He strolled informally through Brighton and London and was given nicknames such as "Sailor King" and "Sailor Bill." The ring here shows the king's profile portrait, as comparison with coin portraits suggests. No longer quite young and with a slight double chin, the monarch looks to the right. He no longer wears a wig, but has curly hair on top of his head and straight hair at the back of his head. The relief stands out brightly against the shimmering blue background. The portrait of the king is made of wax, a typical technique of the time. It is set in gold and safely stored behind glass. An elegant framing of engraved yellow gold surrounds the portrait; a ring band in slightly redder gold turns the small work of art into a ring. The ornamentation of the goldsmith's work suggests that the ring was created during the king's reign. Presumably, a courtier once wore it or it was a gift from the monarch. We discovered the ring in London. The last image shows a gold coin from the reign of William IV, a sovereign from 1831.

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