This unusual mid-20th century gold ring is set with an masterly carved agate intaglio. The intaglio is engraved to depict St George slaying the dragon. He is pictured on horseback valiantly wielding a sword.

The agate stone is prong set in each corner with an open work mount crafted in 18K gold. The intaglio is signed on the face with the maker’s mark ‘A.A’ and on the back ‘101 PR’, possibly a reference number.
 
UK size M, US size 6.25

5.86g, intaglio measures 22mm x 15mm x 3mm, French 18K gold import ‘owl’ control mark.

Both the ring and intaglio are in excellent condition. The intaglio protrudes 9mm from the finger.

The myth of Saint George slaying the dragon originated in stories of his valiance and bravery brought back by the Crusaders who learned of him during the Middle Ages.

Legend has it that George arrived upon a village where a dragon was terrorising the local people. To appease the creature, they had begun to sacrifice a sheep per day to feed its hunger until they no longer had any sheep. The King then decreed that they must sacrifice the local children to keep the dragon at bay. Each day, the sacrifice was chosen by lottery until the King’s daughter was selected. As she was being led to the dragon, George happened by. Horrified by what he discovered, he offered to slay the dragon. During his battle with the dragon, George noticed a vulnerable patch of skin under its arm and charged forward with his sword, slaying the beast. The villagers held a huge feast in his honour and the feast day of Saint George is celebrated each year in tribute to his bravery.
 
St. George stands for courage and chivalry. Chivalry is the code of honour which knights in armour used to follow. They had to swear to be brave, fair, true to their word, and to protect the weak and the poor. Of course not all knights kept the code – but St. George did.

He is the patron saint of England, and the red cross of St. George is on the national flag. In England, his day is the 23rd of April. He is also the patron saint of several other countries; including Canada, China, Greece, Russia, Portugal, Palestine, Ethiopia, Serbia, and Montenegro. One country is even named after him – and that’s the Georgia which is situated between Russia and Turkey.