Ring
1725-1775 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This pretty enamel ring is painted with figures of musicians, dancers and card players on a white background. The fragility of enamel, which would easily chip when worn on the finger, suggests that it was made to be worn infrequently or as a collector's piece to keep in a cabinet.
This ring forms part of a collection of 760 rings and engraved gems from the collection of Edmund Waterton (1830-87). Waterton was one of the foremost ring collectors of the nineteenth century and was the author of several articles on rings, a book on English devotion to the Virgin Mary and an unfinished catalogue of his collection (the manuscript is now the National Art Library). Waterton was noted for his extravagance and financial troubles caused him to place his collection in pawn with the London jeweller Robert Phillips. When he was unable to repay the loan, Phillips offered to sell the collection to the Museum and it was acquired in 1871. A small group of rings which Waterton had held back were acquired in 1899.
This ring forms part of a collection of 760 rings and engraved gems from the collection of Edmund Waterton (1830-87). Waterton was one of the foremost ring collectors of the nineteenth century and was the author of several articles on rings, a book on English devotion to the Virgin Mary and an unfinished catalogue of his collection (the manuscript is now the National Art Library). Waterton was noted for his extravagance and financial troubles caused him to place his collection in pawn with the London jeweller Robert Phillips. When he was unable to repay the loan, Phillips offered to sell the collection to the Museum and it was acquired in 1871. A small group of rings which Waterton had held back were acquired in 1899.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Enamelled copper |
Brief description | Enamelled copper ring with a broad hoop, with painted enamel scenes of three musicians, a man and woman dancing, three gamblers and two other revellers, probably Tyrol, Austria. About 1725-75. |
Physical description | Enamelled copper ring with a broad hoop, with painted enamel scenes of three musicians, a man and woman dancing, three gamblers and two other revellers |
Dimensions |
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Object history | ex Waterton Collection |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | This pretty enamel ring is painted with figures of musicians, dancers and card players on a white background. The fragility of enamel, which would easily chip when worn on the finger, suggests that it was made to be worn infrequently or as a collector's piece to keep in a cabinet. This ring forms part of a collection of 760 rings and engraved gems from the collection of Edmund Waterton (1830-87). Waterton was one of the foremost ring collectors of the nineteenth century and was the author of several articles on rings, a book on English devotion to the Virgin Mary and an unfinished catalogue of his collection (the manuscript is now the National Art Library). Waterton was noted for his extravagance and financial troubles caused him to place his collection in pawn with the London jeweller Robert Phillips. When he was unable to repay the loan, Phillips offered to sell the collection to the Museum and it was acquired in 1871. A small group of rings which Waterton had held back were acquired in 1899. |
Bibliographic references |
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Collection | |
Accession number | 1003-1871 |
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Record created | November 11, 2005 |
Record URL |
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