Ring
7th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The square bezel of this ring is engraved with the figure of Christ joining the hands of a couple in marriage. It was made in the Eastern Roman Empire, whose capital Byzantium had legalised Christianity under the Emperor Constantine (reigned 324-337). It forms part of a group of several dozen similar gold rings which combine Christian imagery with the figures of a couple, sometimes inscribed with their names.
Before being acquired by the Museum in 1936, the ring was in the Guilhou collection. Ernest Guilhou (1844-1912) was a collector of snuffboxes, enamels, watches and especially rings. He put together an exceptional collection of 1636 rings, dating from the Etruscan to the 17th century. His heirs sold the collection at auction in 1937. The ring was presented to the V&A by the jeweller Mosheh Oved who was also the owner of the Bloomsbury antiques and jewellery shop, Cameo Corner.
Before being acquired by the Museum in 1936, the ring was in the Guilhou collection. Ernest Guilhou (1844-1912) was a collector of snuffboxes, enamels, watches and especially rings. He put together an exceptional collection of 1636 rings, dating from the Etruscan to the 17th century. His heirs sold the collection at auction in 1937. The ring was presented to the V&A by the jeweller Mosheh Oved who was also the owner of the Bloomsbury antiques and jewellery shop, Cameo Corner.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Engraved gold |
| Brief description | Gold ring, the projecting square bezel engraved with Christ joining the hands of a husband and wife, Byzantine, 7th century |
| Physical description | Gold ring, the projecting square bezel engraved with Christ joining the hands of a husband and wife |
| Dimensions |
|
| Style | |
| Credit line | Given by Mr Mosheh Oved |
| Object history | ex Guilhou Collection |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | The square bezel of this ring is engraved with the figure of Christ joining the hands of a couple in marriage. It was made in the Eastern Roman Empire, whose capital Byzantium had legalised Christianity under the Emperor Constantine (reigned 324-337). It forms part of a group of several dozen similar gold rings which combine Christian imagery with the figures of a couple, sometimes inscribed with their names. Before being acquired by the Museum in 1936, the ring was in the Guilhou collection. Ernest Guilhou (1844-1912) was a collector of snuffboxes, enamels, watches and especially rings. He put together an exceptional collection of 1636 rings, dating from the Etruscan to the 17th century. His heirs sold the collection at auction in 1937. The ring was presented to the V&A by the jeweller Mosheh Oved who was also the owner of the Bloomsbury antiques and jewellery shop, Cameo Corner. |
| Bibliographic reference | Catalogue of the superb collection of rings, including choice examples of all periods from the Egypt of the Pharaohs to the France of Napoleon I, formed by the late Monsieur E. Guilhou of Paris, Sotheby and Co, November 1937, London, cat. 468, pl. XV |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.184-1937 |
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| Record created | March 17, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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