Ring of loyalty of the company of the "Grenadiers à Cheval" of the King's Military Household, belonging to J. Galabert, Restoration era.

RING OF FIDELITY OF THE COMPANY OF THE "HORSE GRENADIERS" OF THE MILITARY HOUSEHOLD OF THE KING, BELONGING TO J. GALABERT, RESTORATION PERIOD.

Ring of the Company of the "Horse Grenadiers". Gilt copper, adorned with foliage and coats of arms. Vermeil bezel with a blazing grenade and the motto "Undique terror," "Undique lethum," and "Honneur et Fidélité" in coats of arms (partial inscription remains). Inside, two crossed and engraved hands with "Mis de la Rochejaquelein" and "Galabert.J 1815" inscribed.

Good condition, signs of wear.

France.

Restoration period.

NOTE:
A silver-plated non-military ring of the same provenance is included.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
In the face of the unexpected return of the Emperor to France in February 1815, Louis XVIII leaves Paris for Ghent.

The rings with two swords:
The military of the Royal Army who followed him to Belgium received a patent signed by the Duke of Berry, certifying their service in that army. The officers decided to have a ring made with two crossed swords and the motto: "ma vie au roi, mon cœur aux dames" ("my life to the king, my heart to the ladies"). According to Monsieur Brechemin, a jeweler at the Palais-Royal, these rings were commissioned, bearing the initials of the royal family: L, MT, P, A, F, C. These rings also included the name of the recipient along with the date and location of passing the border. Several known examples exist with the complete motto, “à dieu mon âme, ma vie au roi, mon cœur aux dames, l’honneur à moi.”

Specific rings for the King's Household:
During the Restoration period, members of the King's Household, including grenadiers on horseback, wore rings with the emblem of their respective companies. The rings of the Grenadiers on horseback were made of silver or vermeil with a blazing grenade. These rings, produced mainly as these units were disbanded, are rare and highly collectible.

SOURCES:
• History of the King's Military Household, Eugene Titeux, Paris, 1890.
• Military Rings of 1815 and 1824, Gabriel Cottreau, Carnets de la Sabretache, Paris, March 1904.
• The Ring in France Throughout History, Maximin Deloche, Librairie de Paris, Firmin-Didot et Cie, 56 rue Jacob.