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Double ring brooch

Double ring brooch

  • Place of origin:

    England, Great Britain (made)

  • Date:

    1200-1300 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Gold, cast; sapphire

  • Credit Line:

    Purchased with the assistance of The Art Fund and the Murray Bequest

  • Museum number:

    M.26-1993

  • Gallery location:

    Jewellery, room 91, case 52, shelf A, box 5

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This unique jewel is likely to have been made for a wealthy lady or perhaps, in view of its size, a child. It was used to fasten a garment at the neck.

The goldsmith has included two tiny heads ( perhaps lions or dogs,visible above and below the ring brooches), looking down and biting on the straps. These straps are set with imitation emeralds, which were believed to be effective against poison.

Physical description

Double ring-brooch: a brooch with a ring at each end, and set with a tear-shaped sapphire and green pastes (in imitation of emeralds).

Place of Origin

England, Great Britain (made)

Date

1200-1300 (made)

Artist/maker

unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Gold, cast; sapphire

Dimensions

Height: 6.5 cm, Width: 1.3 cm, Depth: 0.5 cm

Descriptive line

Double ring brooch set with a sapphire and green pastes. England, 1200-1300.

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

Campbell, Marian, Medieval Jewellery in Europe 1100-1500, London, V&A Publishing, 2009, p. 58, fig. 58

Materials

Gold; Sapphire; Paste (glass)

Techniques

Casting

Subjects depicted

Childhood

Categories

Metalwork; Jewellery

Collection code

MET

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Qr_O105567
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