Signet Ring
15th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Rings are the most commonly surviving medieval jewels. They were worn by both sexes, across all levels of society. Some portraits show wearers with multiple rings across all their fingers. Although rings were worn for decoration, they also had important practical functions. Signet rings such as this one were pressed into sealing wax to create a unique, legally recognised signature. Signets could be engraved with a coat of arms for those entitled to bear them, with a personal device or simply with an initial letter. The most valuable signet rings were made of gold, sometimes set with an engraved hardstone. Cheaper versions were made of silver or sometimes bronze.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silver, engraved and nielloed |
| Brief description | Nielloed silver signet ring with an octagonal bezel engraved with a coat of arms and inscription in black letter variant, Europe, possibly Hungary, 15th century |
| Physical description | Nielloed silver signet ring with an octagonal bezel engraved with a coat of arms and inscription in black letter variant. The coat of arms consists of a shield with three cinquefoils above two sprays. The inscription may possibly read 'benedictus deus'. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Inscribed in black letter variant |
| Credit line | Given by Dr Egger |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Rings are the most commonly surviving medieval jewels. They were worn by both sexes, across all levels of society. Some portraits show wearers with multiple rings across all their fingers. Although rings were worn for decoration, they also had important practical functions. Signet rings such as this one were pressed into sealing wax to create a unique, legally recognised signature. Signets could be engraved with a coat of arms for those entitled to bear them, with a personal device or simply with an initial letter. The most valuable signet rings were made of gold, sometimes set with an engraved hardstone. Cheaper versions were made of silver or sometimes bronze. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.471-1936 |
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| Record created | February 13, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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