Signet Ring
late 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 arms on this ring may be those of William Lovell of Norfolk. A strip of paper once attached to the ring stated that it had been found in 1777 at Morley in Norfolk.
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 arms on this ring may be those of William Lovell of Norfolk. A strip of paper once attached to the ring stated that it had been found in 1777 at Morley in Norfolk.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Engraved silver |
| Brief description | Silver signet ring with a lozenge shaped bezel engraved with the arms of Lovell, Co. Norfolk, for William Lovell (d.1476), with applied details on the shoulders, England, late 15th century |
| Physical description | Silver signet ring with a lozenge shaped bezel engraved with the arms of Lovell, Co. Norfolk, for William Lovell (d.1476), with applied details on the shoulders. The arms are described as 'A chevron between three squirrels sejant'. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | engraved with a coat of arms (the arms of Lovell, Co. Norfolk, for William Lovell (d.1476)) |
| Credit line | Given by Dame Joan Evans |
| Object history | A parchment strip was attached to the ring inscribed in a late eighteenth century hand 'This ring was found 1777 at Morley, Norfolk,the arms belong to Henry Lovell, Lord Lovell. He married Eliz. D. of John de la Pole Duke of Suffolk temp. H.7" From the Philip Nelson Collection, acquired by Dame Joan Evans |
| Subject depicted | |
| Association | |
| 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 arms on this ring may be those of William Lovell of Norfolk. A strip of paper once attached to the ring stated that it had been found in 1777 at Morley in Norfolk. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.264-1962 |
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| Record created | February 14, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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