Gems have long been considered by all peoples as somehow magical because of their brilliance of colour and hardness, but other materials, such as teeth, also had magical properties.
This ring has the hoop engraved with two inscriptions, providing double the power; one a magic formula, the other a biblical phrase. The magical charm: ‘BURO + BERTO + BERNETO’ is to protect against toothache; the tooth set in the bezel may well have been expected to contribute to the prophylactic power of the words. The biblical phrase 'CONSUMMATUM + EST' are the last words Christ spoke on the Cross, and were used as a charm to calm storms.
As this ring is large, it is probably it belonged to a man, and as storms would endanger the wearer only when at sea, it has been suggested that a travelling merchant who undertook many sea voyages might be a possible candidate for ownership.
Physical description
Ring, gold, wolf's tooth. The shoulders are decorated with stiff-leafed foliage moulded in high relief against a cross-hatched background. On each side of the ring are pierced pear-shaped holes within which there are small openwork crowns. The heart-shaped bezel is set with a wolf's tooth. Inside the hoop is a later inscription, engraved in black letter: + Buro + Berto + Berneto + Consum[m]atum e[st].
Place of Origin
England, Great Britain (possibly, made)
France (possibly, made)
Date
1200-1300 (made)
around 1375 - 1425 (altered)
Artist/maker
Unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Gold; wolf's tooth
Marks and inscriptions
+ Buro + Berto + Berneto + Consum[m]atum e[st] The first three words beginning with 'B' are a magical charm to appease toothache. The last is an abbreviation of Christ's final words on the cross, used as a charm to calm storms.
Dimensions
Height: 0.9 cm, Width: 2.6 cm, Depth: 2.8 cm, Diameter: 2.1 cm
Historical context note
The inscription: ‘BURO + BERTO + BERNETO’ is a magical charm against toothache; the tooth set into the bezel may well have been expected to contribute to the prophylactic power of the words. The biblical phrase 'CONSUMMATUM + EST' are the last words Christ spoke on the Cross, and were was used as a charm to calm storms.This combination of charms is not, however, unusual, as other examples are known.
As this ring is large, it is probably it belonged to a man, and as storms would endanger the wearer only when at sea, it has been suggested by Sarah Bercusson that a travelling merchant could be a possible candidate for ownership.
Descriptive line
Gold ring, the heart-shaped bezel set with a wolf's tooth. A later black letter inscription inside the hoop reads Buro + Berto + Berneto + Consum[m]atum e[st], used as charms against toothache and to calm storms. England or France, 1200-1300, the inscription probably 1375-1425.
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.647, pp.484-5
Ward, A. et al, The Ring, London 1981, no 131.
Exhibition History
Age of Chivalry: Art in Plantagenet England 1200-1400 (Royal Academy of Arts 06/11/1987-06/03/1988)
Production Note
The later engraving around 1375 - 1425
Materials
Gold; Tooth
Techniques
Engraving (incising)
Subjects depicted
Tooth
Categories
Metalwork; Jewellery; Amulets
Collection code
MET
