Ring
c. 1250-1300 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Gems were the most valuable element of a ring, and those from distant lands were the most costly and desirable. Sapphires came from Sri Lanka, and were one of the most popular choices, owing to their brilliant colour and talismanic properties. Sapphires were believed to promote chastity, peace and reconciliation, and to incline God to hear prayers favourably. In the medieval period, stones were not generally cut, but polished into a rounded form, known as 'cabochon', as in this example. The naturally-occuring irregular shape of the stone meant that a claw setting was the most effective in securing the stone.
This ring, with its prominent setting and foliate decoration on the hoop is a particularly elaborate example of a sapphire ring of the period.
This ring, with its prominent setting and foliate decoration on the hoop is a particularly elaborate example of a sapphire ring of the period.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Gold, engraved; sapphire |
| Brief description | Gold ring set with a cabochon sapphire, England or France, around 1250-1300. |
| Physical description | Gold ring, the bezel set with a sapphire. The tall triangular bezel arising from scrolled shoulders on the hoop, which is engraved with foliate decoration.The cabochon sapphire secured by a claw setting. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by Dame Joan Evans |
| Object history | ex Waterton Collection |
| Production | England or France |
| Association | |
| Summary | Gems were the most valuable element of a ring, and those from distant lands were the most costly and desirable. Sapphires came from Sri Lanka, and were one of the most popular choices, owing to their brilliant colour and talismanic properties. Sapphires were believed to promote chastity, peace and reconciliation, and to incline God to hear prayers favourably. In the medieval period, stones were not generally cut, but polished into a rounded form, known as 'cabochon', as in this example. The naturally-occuring irregular shape of the stone meant that a claw setting was the most effective in securing the stone. This ring, with its prominent setting and foliate decoration on the hoop is a particularly elaborate example of a sapphire ring of the period. |
| Bibliographic reference | Campbell, Marian, Medieval Jewellery in Europe 1100-1500, London, V&A Publishing, 2009, p.28, fig.22
|
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.180-1975 |
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| Record created | March 13, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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