A hallmarked 9ct gold signet ring made in 1918 by Birmingham makers William and John Sanders, weighing 6.4 grams. The face is engraved with a Minokawa bird clutching a crescent moon in its sharp talons, the lines deep and deliberate, giving the design real strength. In Philippine mythology the Minokawa is a great celestial bird said to try to swallow the sun and moon, a symbol of power, hunger and the pull between light and dark. Its appearance on an English-made ring of this period is unusual and speaks to the reach of global influence in early twentieth-century design.
The build is solid with strong shoulders, clean proportions and a beautifully balanced form. The 9ct gold has mellowed into that rich antique yellow that only age can bring, and the hallmarks are clear inside the band. At 6.4 grams it has satisfying substance, a piece that carries both myth and craftsmanship in equal measure.
Hallmarked Birmingham, 1918
Makers William and John Sanders
9ct gold
Weight 6.4 grams
Ring size S (US 9 1/8, EU 60.25)