Physical description
Enamelled gold ring with a circular bezel set with a serpent's eye
Place of Origin
Italy (possibly, made)
Date
1670-1700 (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Enamelled gold set with a serpent's eye
Dimensions
Height: 2.3 cm, Width: 2.1 cm, Depth: 1.1 cm
Object history note
ex Waterton Collection
Historical significance: A belief in the magical or curative properties of various natural substances has long existed at all levels of society. Philip II of Spain wore a ring set with a stone to protect him against haemorrhages whilst Elizabeth I owned a ring having the virtue 'to expel infectious airs' (Scarisbrick, p.55). Amongst the substances held to have curative values are toadstones, particularly popular in England in the Renaissance and whose use persisted into the eighteenth century.
'Serpents' eye' , ie. the fossilised tooth of a Sargus (white sea bream) fish. This gem has been catalogued as 'toadstone' (fossilised tooth of Lepidote fish), but toadstone has a characteristic brown/grey colour. This particular specimen is orange, though having a similar growth structure to the toadstones in the V&A's collection (ie. semi-opaque, granular growth structure radiating from the centre of the form and graduating to a wavy pattern around the edges [viewed under high magnification]). The refractive index measures approx. 1.58 (distant vision). A second opinion from a specialist at the Natural History Museum would be useful.
The serpents' eye is commonly mistaken for toadstone.
The following is an extract from the Natural History Museum Website, taken on the 09/11/06
(www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/earth/fossils/fossil-folklore/fossil_types/fish_teeth.htm)
Serpents' eyes
Miocene fossil teeth of another bony fish - 'Sargus', the white sea bream, and its relatives - were known as serpents' eyes in Malta. The palatal teeth of Sargus resemble Lepidotes teeth. They often have a pale yellow or orange-coloured centre called the acrodin cap, surrounded by a darker ring, coloured brown, giving them an eye-like appearance. Along with tonguestones (sharks' teeth), serpents' eyes were given as gifts in Malta during medieval times (Zammit-Maempel 1989). For instance, papal delegates to Malta were presented with gold-mounted serpents' eyes and fossil sharks' teeth to be used as protective amulets.
Their importance and value also extended to royalty - serpents' eyes were listed among the jewels owned by King Henry V of England (Thompson 1932).
The idea that Sargus teeth were the petrified eyes of serpents is connected with the story of St Paul. The snakes cursed by the shipwrecked apostle are said to have lost their eyes, which then became embedded in the island's rocks.
The use of serpents' eyes as a sympathetic medicine against snakebites involved either boiling the fossil fish teeth in water, or adding the teeth in powdered form to water or wine (Worm 1686).
References
Thompson, C. J. S. 1932. A Mediaeval poison cup made from the Terra Sigillata. British Medical Journal 1 : 73-74.
Topsell, E. 1608. The Historie of Serpents. London: Jaggard.
Zammit-Maempel, G. 1989. The Folklore of Maltese fossils. Papers in Mediterranean Social Studies 1 : 1-29.
Descriptive line
Enamelled gold ring with a circular bezel set with a serpent's eye, possibly Italy, 1670-1700.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Oman, C.C. Victoria and Albert Museum Catalogue of Rings, 1930. Ipswich, Anglia Publishing, 1993, cat. no. 767.
Ironmongers Hall Exhibition, 1861, ii, 505
Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries, 2nd series, i, 278
Waterton, Edmund, Dactyliotheca Watertoniana : a descriptive catalogue of the finger-rings in the collection of Mrs. Waterton [manuscript], 1866
Kunz, G. F. Rings for the Finger. From the earliest known times to the present, with full descriptions of the origin, early making, materials, the Archaeology, history, for affection, for love, for engagement, for wedding, commemorative, mourning, etc. Philadelphia & London: Lippincott, 1917.
Bury, Shirley, Jewellery Gallery Summary Catalogue. London, Victoria and Albert Museum, 1982, case 33, board B, item 5
Scarisbrick, Diana Rings: symbols of wealth, power and affection, Harry N. Abrams, New York, 1993
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
Exhibition History
Ironmongers Hall Exhibition (Ironmongers' Hall 01/01/1861-31/12/1861)
Materials
Gold; Serpent's eye
Techniques
Engraving
Categories
Jewellery; Amulets
Collection code
MET
