newly discovered 16TH CENTURY ‘GRASSHOPPER’ RING given by great tudor financier AND AGENT TO THE CROWN sir thomas gresham to be offered for auction at NOONANS mayfair

An important 16th century ‘Grasshopper’ ring, given by the great Tudor financier and merchant, Sir Thomas Gresham (1519-1579), financial agent to four Tudor monarchs - Henry VIII, Edward IV, Mary and finally Elizabeth I - is among the highlights of Noonans Mayfair’s sale of Jewellery, Watches, Silver and Objects of Vertu on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. The heavy seal ring, dating from circa 1560-1575, is carved with the coat of arms of Warner, the underside of the bezel engraved with a green enamelled grasshopper, being the Gresham family crest. The ring is believed to have been gifted from Thomas Gresham to Mark Warner, of All Hallows, Lombard Street in the City of London, a cloth merchant and liveryman of Drapers’ Company. It is estimated to fetch £10,000-15,000.

As Frances Noble, Associate Director and Head of Jewellery at Noonans commented: “This, until now unrecorded ring, is from a series of highly important ‘Gresham grasshopper’ seal rings, given by the great Tudor financier and merchant, Sir Thomas Gresham, as gifts to acquaintances and associates. This particular ring was inherited through a private family from the 19th century and remained in the same family until circa 2010”.

“Nine examples of these ‘Gresham grasshopper’ rings are known, one in the British Museum, a second in the V & A museum, a third in St. Fagans National Museum of History, Cardiff. Further examples are in private collections. The Warner ring brings the total number to ten and is the first to be offered at auction for almost 50 years”.

She continued: “Both being cloth merchants, involved in finance, and both residing and working in Lombard Street, Mark Warner and Thomas Gresham’s paths would undoubtedly have crossed. No particular event, common interest or business venture can be established to link the various recipients of these rings. Theories have been put forward by noted historians but none with conclusive or universally accepted views.”

“Although the rings could have been given by Gresham in thanks for past services, it seems more probable that those chosen to receive these expensive gifts were individuals whose future potential could be of benefit to Sir Thomas, the hidden grasshopper crest to the interior of each ring serving as a pertinent reminder as to where the recipient’s loyalties should lie.”