2 Rings Loyalty Rings Royal Cause Viscount Hardouineau 18k Gold 1815

Two rings of loyalty to the royal cause (Louis XVIII) given to the Viscount of Hardouineau*, in solid 18 carat gold, in the shape of a signet ring with an oval setting chiseled with two crossed swords and the cry "Long live the King anyway!", outline dated 1815, from the Restoration period, early 19th century. The first ring is size 73 (Gross weight: 3.69 gr). The outline is engraved "24 MAY 1815". Ring engraved on the front to the left of the setting "A DIEU MON AME / MON CŒUR AUX DAMES" and on the right "MA VIE AU ROI / L’HONNEUR A MOI". In the place corresponding to the setting, a heart-shaped shield "Le Vte D’Hardouineau M al de Camp" decorated with the initials "L.M.T. / P.A.F. / C. » corresponding to the members of the royal family (Louis XVIII, Marie-Thérèse, Duchess of Angoulême, Charles-Philippe, Count of Artois, Antoine, Duke of Angoulême, Ferdinand Duke of Berry, Caroline, Duchess of Berry.

The second ring is size 64 (Gross weight: 4.28 gr). The edge of the bezel is engraved « YPRES 25 MARS 1815 ». Ring engraved on the front to the left of the bezel « A DIEU MON AME / MON CŒUR AUX DAMES » and on the right « MA VIE AU ROI / L’HONNEUR A MOI ». The inside of the ring is engraved « d’Hardouineau » and a heart decorated with the initials « L.M.T.P.A.F.C. » corresponding to the members of the royal family (see above). Trace of a goldsmith’s punch ending with a B.
* Antoine-Philippe François Marie , Viscount of HARDOUINEAU (1788-1865)
was received as a Bodyguard of the King on January 3, 1800, as his father had been 23 years earlier. Made a Knight of the Legion of Honor on November 26, 1814, he was reported to be on campaign in Ghent in 1815. In the Secret and Unpublished Memoirs of Alphonse de Beauchamp (1767-1832), he intervenes, being presented as "aide-de-camp to Louis XVIII", on "the exile and misfortunes of the princes of the Royal House" (Paris, Paris, Vernarel and Tenon, 1825).
Note that it is very rare to have two similar rings together, offered to the same man. In addition, one can reasonably assume that under the bezels (unfortunately sealed) there is a miniature of Louis XVIII. Please note: the kittens are sealed, some small shocks and deformations, scratches and wear of time, look carefully at the photos.
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** Loyalty ring:
Faced with the unexpected return of the Emperor to France in February 1815, Louis XVIII left Paris for Ghent (in Belgium. The soldiers of the royal army who followed him to Belgium received a patent signed by the hand of the Duke of Berry, stating that they had been part of this army. These rings were only made or given out upon seeing the patent.
The specific type of rings for the Maison du Roi:
As Gabriel Cottreau wrote in 1904 in an article published in the magazine La Sabretache: "The Restoration is the only period in our history where we have seen soldiers wear rings recalling either their services in a corps or their participation in a campaign. This custom originated in the Maison du Roi and spread to the companies of the Maison Rouge: gendarmes, light cavalry and musketeers, as well as to the company of horse grenadiers, mainly at the time when these corps were disbanded." At the dismissal of the Maison Rouge of Louis XVIII, the officers of the companies received, as a rallying sign, a gold ring whose bezel bore the distinctive insignia of the company.
Dimensions
Weight size 73 (Gross weight: 3.69 gr) size 64 (Gross weight: 4.28 gr)

Reference: B00 442- B00 443
All photos are on:
www.antiques-delaval.com

Ref: W2WUMJ02G4