This medieval ring is set with a much earlier sapphire intaglio, probably carved in the Greek World around the first century BC. In the Middle Ages, between the 12th and 14th century, ancient gems were frequently re-set for use as personal seals, authenticating letters and legal documents. Roman or Hellenistic images of gods or mythological figures were not so much misunderstood as re-interpreted in a Christian framework. A Ptolomaic princess such as the one on this seal, might therefore be used to symbolise the Virgin Mary, often shown with a veil over her head.
The inscription around the bezel of the ring: 'Tecta lege, lecta tege' is translated as 'Read what is written, hide what is read' and shows the ring's use as a personal signet. The sapphire is set in an open-backed mount, allowing it to touch the skin of the wearer. Direct contact of the stone with the skin was believed to convey a medicinal or amuletic benefit.
Physical description
Signet ring, gold, set with a sapphire. Around the oval bezel is engraved in Latin in Lombardic lettering* TECTA: LEGE: LECTA; TEGE. The hoop of the ring is open at the back of the bezel so that the finger can touch the sapphire. The sapphire intaglio in the centre of the bezel is engraved with a head in profile of a lady in a veil.
Place of Origin
Europe (possibly set in England, made)
Alexandria, Egypt (made)
Date
1275-1325 (made)
100 BC - 1 BC (made)
Artist/maker
unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Gold, engraved; sapphire, carved
Marks and inscriptions
'*TECTA: LEGE: LECTA: TEGE' 'Read what is written, hide what is read'
Dimensions
Height: 2.5 cm, Width: 2.4 cm, Depth: 2.1 cm
Object history note
Found in a well in Hereford in 1824. ex Waterton Collection. Exhibited at the Society of Antiquaries by the Rev. Charles J. Bird, FSA and documented in the Gentleman's Magazine, 1830,vol. 100, part1, p.65. Shown at the 1862 Special Loan Exhibition at the South Kensington Museum.
The sapphire was identified by Dr Martin Henig in 2006 as a high quality Hellenistic carving, possibly cut down from a larger stone. A comparable example is cat. 387 in Dmitri Plantzos 'Hellenistic engraved gems', Oxford, 1999.
Descriptive line
Gold signet set with a sapphire intaglio of a woman's head. Inscribed around the bezel :*TECTA: LEGE: LECTA: TEGE. Possibly set in England, 1275-1325
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Age of Chivalry: Art in Plantagenet England 1200-1400, Alexander, J. and Binski, P. (eds), London: Weidenfeld and Nicholson, 1987, no.654, p.486
Church, Rachel, Rings, London, V&A Publishing, 2011, cat.26, p.25
Waterton, Edmund Dactyliotheca Watertoniana: a descriptive catalogue of the finger-rings in the collection of Mrs Waterton, (manuscript, 1866, now in National Art Library), p.232
Ward, Anne; Cherry, John; Gere, Charlotte; Cartlidge, Barbara, The Ring, London, 1981, cat.134, p.66
Henig, Martin, The re-use and copying of ancient intaglios set in medieval personal seals, mainly found in England: an aspect of the Renaissance of the 12th century,in Good impressions: image and authority in medieval seals, edited by Noel Adams, John Cherry and James Robinson
Oman, Charles, Catalogue of rings in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1930, reprinted Ipswich, 1993, cat.534
Bury, Shirley, Introduction to Rings, London, 1984, p.28, cat. 31D
Exhibition History
Age of Chivalry: Art in Plantagenet England 1200-1400 (Royal Academy of Arts 06/11/1987-06/03/1988)
Production Note
Intaglio probably Greek World, Alexandria, 100-0 BC.
Materials
Gold; Sapphire
Techniques
Carving; Engraving (incising)
Categories
Metalwork; Jewellery
Collection code
MET
