Unique Ring

youthgoes · 13 July 2009, 07:48 AM

Hello guys. My name is Chris, and I'm a newcomer to this forum, so hello! I have in my possession currently a ring that my uncle found in a box when rummaging through my deceased grandmother's old house. I will upload a picture soon.

In any case, I can describe it as follows. The body of it is made out of some sort of fairly lightweight metal...I hesitate to say aluminum...but it is gray in color so I would say either aluminum or steel. It has a large crest on top which features a black and brownish-tan alternating color scheme, and in the center is the image of a shield surrounded by 2 griffins/eagles/lions on either side. The shield has nothing in the center of it, and is therefore blank. What is most intriguing, however, is the sides of the ring. On either side of the ring, there are what appear to be 2 Totenkopf-style skulls with aviator helmets on.

Here's my thought process on this. As the use of the skull in aviation emblems seemed to be largely confined to Germanic/Anglo countries and cultures, I reasoned already that this ring is probably of either British, German, or American origin. As far as I know, there were no British aviation rings handed out during World War I. Likewise, I am unsure that the Americans, given their late entry into the War, and their limited aviation combat experience during it, (save the Lafayette Escardrille), so therefore I would surmise that this was unlikely to be of American origin either. Therefore, I concluded that it was probably either German or Austro-Hungarian. Also, I ruled out it's possible origins in World War II, because it does not have any swastikas, iron eagles, or other Nazi symbols on it either. Any ideas? I would love to know exactly what it is that I have here.

Thanks,
Chris C.

youthgoes · 13 July 2009, 11:18 AM

Here's an update guys. This ring is actually made out of pewter. Also, as you will see in the pictures, and I apologize in advance for the blurriness, the top crest is actually tan and brown in color, with some stippling in the pewter around the edges. My mother says that my great uncle Ralph got this when he was traveling in Mexico, of all odd places to find it, but I don't know if A. that's true, as it's second hand information, or B. if it is from Mexico or not, or someplace else entirely. Again, any information you could provide would be most helpful.

Thanks again,
Chris C.

youthgoes · 14 July 2009, 08:22 AM

Hey guys. Yet a further update. Upon further analysis, in addition to the body being pewter, both Totenkopf-style skulls and the crest-and-lions emblem on the top appear to be pressed copper. Again, any ideas?

Thanks,
Chris C.

Kaiser Bill · 14 July 2009, 08:46 AM

Chris...welcome to the 'drome. Good to have you here

Interesting ring you have there. Too bad the pics aren't clearer....its really hard to get a feel for what this might be. You said Mexico??? Skulls?? Possibly connected with Dia De Los Muertos... but thats just a wild guess.

Kaiser Bill

Thomas Trauner · 14 July 2009, 10:15 AM

Another wild guess and maybe a bad idea...shure that the "aviator helmets" are aviator helmets ?

Motor bike-helmets perhaps ? Sign of a "motor-bike gang" ?
Something like that ?

Just an idea, even not very helpful, I fear.

Thomas

youthgoes · 14 July 2009, 04:46 PM

Hey guys! Well it could be from a biker gang...but I don't think those came around until post-WWII in the United States and Mexico...and this was bought just after or during WWII as I understand it. Also, Kaiser, Dia De Los Muertos...that is actually an interesting idea that hadn't crossed my mind. It might explain the skulls...although not the oddly European crest on the top. I got an e-mail back from the guys over at Germania International in GA...who had this to say:

You wouldn't even have had to tell me it was from a Mexican source to know it is a
typical Mexican souvenir ring and unfortunately that is exactly what it is
Sorry I couldn't give you better news
Regards
Germania

I could see how this could be the case...and if so, it brings an early, and disappointing, end to the mystery. However...it still seems odd to me that the Mexicans would bother plastering skulls with helmets of ANY kind on the sides of a ring like that. Well...here's hoping someone knows on here lol. Thanks for the help thus far guys!

Thanks,
Chris

youthgoes · 14 July 2009, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaiser Bill

Chris...welcome to the 'drome. Good to have you here

Interesting ring you have there. Too bad the pics aren't clearer....its really hard to get a feel for what this might be. You said Mexico??? Skulls?? Possibly connected with Dia De Los Muertos... but thats just a wild guess.

Kaiser Bill

Bill...I will get clearer pictures uploaded soon. My camera phone can take them better...but it's very picky with lighting. Keep you posted!

Thanks,
Chris

Jim · 16 July 2009, 10:23 AM

I would agree that it is an inexpensive souvenir ring from Mexico - most likely from one of the town near the border that caters to American tourists. From what I can see I do not notice anything that connects it to the great war. Are there any markings on it?

youthgoes · 16 July 2009, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim

I would agree that it is an inexpensive souvenir ring from Mexico - most likely from one of the town near the border that caters to American tourists. From what I can see I do not notice anything that connects it to the great war. Are there any markings on it?

Hey Jim. Yeah that seems to be the general consensus on the ring lol. It's entirely possible that my mother's uncle simply bought it from a vendor on the border in Mexico and just THOUGHT it was something special...but I don't know exactly where he got it down there for sure. The markings are odd. There aren't an inscriptions or anything...but the shield on the top is flanked by 2 lions...and there are two skulls on the sides with an aviator/motorcycle helmet on each's heads...and the skulls are reminiscent of the Totenkopf. That's all I know thus far outside of the specifics I listed in earlier posts. Sorry :/

Thanks,
Chris