Ring

Physical description

Horn ring mounted with silver with a circular cusped setting with a toadstone

Place of Origin

England, Great Britain (made)

Date

1400-1700 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Horn mounted with silver

Dimensions

Height: 3.9 cm, Width: 3 cm, Depth: 1.5 cm

Object history note

ex Waterton Collection

Historical significance: Ass's hoof was considered efficacious against epilepsy. Toadstone is actually the fossilised tooth of a fish called Lepidotes common in the Oolitic and Wealden Jurassic and Carboniferous strata of England. Also known as 'crapaudine' or 'crappot' it is a brown or orangeish substance believed to come from a toad's head. It was highly valued and reputed to protect the wearer against kidney diseases, to cure the bite of venomous creatures and to detect poison. It was also thought to protect pregnant women from fairies and demons and to prevent their child being exchanged for a changeling. When set in a ring it would give off heat in the presence of a poison. This was described by Fenton in 1569 "Being used in rings they give forewarning of venom". The use of toadstones is well attested in literature

Descriptive line

Horn ring mounted with silver with a circular cusped setting with a toadstone, England, 1400-1700.

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

Duffin, Christopher J. The Toadstone - a rather unlikely jewel. Jewellery History Today. Spring 2010, issue 8. pp. 3-4
Duffin, Christopher J. Fossils as Drugs: pharmaceutical palaeontology. Ferrantia 2002, vol. 54. pp. 1-83

Materials

Silver; Horn

Categories

Metalwork; Jewellery; Amulets

Collection code

MET