A Charles II loyalty ring

A Charles II loyalty ring, the glazed portrait miniature attributed to Nicholas Dixon.

The King is turned to his left and wears gilt-studded armour under a white lace lawn collar partly covering the blue Garter Sash. He wears a black full-bottomed wig and moustache. Lightly clouded sky background. 2.2 x 1.9cm.

Mounted in an 18th century gold ring with bezel in the classical manner. Ring size K.

Nicholas Dixon replaced Samuel Cooper as the King's limner in 1673, the year his predecessor died. It is thought that Dixon painted this portrait miniature at around this time and it was probably inspired by a portrait of King Charles by Cooper.

On 22nd August 1651 Charles Stewart (later Charles II), son of King Charles I, arrived at Worcester following his march from Scotland. The Royalist army had been severely depleted and so the heroic efforts of his mainly Scottish troops were no match for the superior cavalry and infantry of Cromwell's New Model Army when they were defeated at the Battle of Worcester on 3rd September.

Charles sought refuge at the nearby Bentley Hall, home of the Royalist Colonel John Lane and his sister Miss Jane Lane. To avoid the commonwealth cavalry patrols specifically tasked to unearth the King, Charles was disguised as a servant and even had to famously hide in an oak tree in the near by Boscobel Wood.

Jane had obtained a pass to travel to Bristol with a servant to visit her pregnant sister. Catholics were at that time forbidden to travel more than five miles from their homes without written permission. She used this and rode to Bristol with Charles dressed as her servant. Charles eventually escaped from Dorset to Paris. Jane had to flee to Paris also where she was welcomed in to the royal court in exile and held in great esteem. After the Restoration and on return to England, Jane received a generous royal pension and many gifts including portraits of the King.

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The current owner of the miniature portrait ring, Lady Chataway, is the widow of Sir Christopher Chataway, world record breaking Olympic athlete, Conservative Member of Parliament, government minister and television reporter, amongst many achievements.

Lady Chataway was the first cousin once removed of Rosemary Lane MBE and inherited the ring from her in 2006.

Family tradition holds that their distant relative Jane Lane had been presented with the miniature portrait by King Charles II, in recognition and gratitude for the courageous loyalty he had received from Jane when escaping England and Cromwell. Jane Lane also developed a friendship with King Charles when in exile in Paris.

Accompanied with the following book which was inherited with the ring:

Blount, Thomas; Boscobel: or, the History of His Sacred Majesties Most Miraculous Preservation After the Battle of Worcester, 3. Sept. 1651, Doncaster, Reprinted and Sold by Thomas and Hunsley, 1809, 8vo. Upper board, first free end paper and frontispiece loose.

Inscribed, 'Ronald. B. Lane. Bought when Lt. Gov. of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, 7th Oct: 1908