Ring
3rd century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The Romans were skilled locksmiths and invented finger rings in the form of keys. They seem to have been used across the Roman Empire. They are usually made of bronze or iron and the different shapes of the wards suggest that they were intended for use as keys rather than being merely decorative. Key rings may have been used because Roman clothing does not generally have pockets or perhaps for the added security of always having the key on your person. The key rings opened small boxes or caskets of personal possessions such as jewellery boxes rather than doors or cupboards. It is possible that they were particularly worn by women, perhaps after marriage as a sign of their new status. Keys and locks might also have had an amuletic significance, relating to the power of the key to secure and protect or open and reveal.
Roman key rings have been found in some numbers in British archaeological sites including London and Colchester. The excavation of a Roman grave in Colchester in the 1970s uncovered a wooden box with copper fittings which had been buried with the key ring still in the lock.
Roman key rings have been found in some numbers in British archaeological sites including London and Colchester. The excavation of a Roman grave in Colchester in the 1970s uncovered a wooden box with copper fittings which had been buried with the key ring still in the lock.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Bronze |
| Brief description | Bronze ring, the bezel in the form of a key, Roman, 3rd century |
| Physical description | Bronze ring, the bezel in the form of a key. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Credit line | Given by Dr W.L. Hildburgh |
| Object history | Dr Walter Leo Hildburgh (1876-1955), nicknamed The Egg because of his baldness, was an American art collector who gave or bequeathed over 5000 objects to the V&A. He was born in New York in 1876, obtained a PhD from Columbia University and worked as a scientific researcher. A man of independent means, he pursued a range of interests: he became an international figure skater, was an excellent swimmer and developed an interest in folklore, anthropology and magic. In 1912, Hildburgh settled in London and became a frequent visitor to the Victoria and Albert Museum. He became a generous donor, principally to the Metalwork and Sculpture collections. To celebrate his 70th birthday in 1946, he presented 300 examples of English alabaster. He was elected to the Society of Antiquaries in 1915 and awarded a D. Litt in the History of Art from the University of London in 1937. He died in London in 1955, aged 79. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | The Romans were skilled locksmiths and invented finger rings in the form of keys. They seem to have been used across the Roman Empire. They are usually made of bronze or iron and the different shapes of the wards suggest that they were intended for use as keys rather than being merely decorative. Key rings may have been used because Roman clothing does not generally have pockets or perhaps for the added security of always having the key on your person. The key rings opened small boxes or caskets of personal possessions such as jewellery boxes rather than doors or cupboards. It is possible that they were particularly worn by women, perhaps after marriage as a sign of their new status. Keys and locks might also have had an amuletic significance, relating to the power of the key to secure and protect or open and reveal. Roman key rings have been found in some numbers in British archaeological sites including London and Colchester. The excavation of a Roman grave in Colchester in the 1970s uncovered a wooden box with copper fittings which had been buried with the key ring still in the lock. |
| Bibliographic reference | Oman, Charles, Catalogue of rings in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1930, reprinted Ipswich, 1993, cat. 172a |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.151-1929 |
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| Record created | March 17, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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