Ring thumbnail 1
Ring thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Jewellery, Rooms 91, The William and Judith Bollinger Gallery

Ring

ca. 1871 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This ring commemorates the German bombardment of Paris during the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71. It is inscribed TOUS/ AUX/ DANGERS/ TOUS/ A L'HONNEUR/ 1870-1871 (United in danger, united in honour 1870-1871) and with the initials AM for Ave Maria.
Paris surrendered to the forces of General Bismarck on the 28 January 1871 after a prolonged siege.

The firm of the jeweller François-Desiré Froment-Meurice made these rings to commemorate the siege. They were described by Queen magazine as 'some rings ... which the fair Parisiennes are purchasing to present to their husbands as a souvenir of the siege and foreigners are buying as a souvenir of Paris'.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Stamped and engraved bronzed copper
Brief description
Bronzed copper commemorative ring, the hoop a raised frieze of laurel, a crowned shield with the monogram AM and the inscription TOUS/ AUX/ DANGERS/ TOUS/ A L'HONNEUR/ 1870-1871 inside FROMENT-MEURICE, France, about 1871.
Physical description
Bronzed copper commemorative ring, the hoop a raised frieze of laurel, a crowned shield with the monogram AM and the inscription TOUS/ AUX/ DANGERS/ TOUS/ A L'HONNEUR/ 1870-1871 Stamped inside with the maker's name FROMENT-MEURICE
Dimensions
  • Depth: 1.2cm
  • Diameter: 2cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • Bronzed copper commemorative ring, the monogram AM and inscribed TOUS/ AUX/ DANGERS/ TOUS/ A L'HONNEUR/ 1870-1871
  • stamped FROMENT-MEURICE (inside; maker's name)
Credit line
Given by Mrs K. Greenwood-Wynne
Historical context
A mass produced commemorative ring, perhaps relating to General Jean Auguste Margueritte who was mortally wounded in the great cavalry charge at Sedan during the Franco-Prussian War
Subjects depicted
Summary
This ring commemorates the German bombardment of Paris during the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71. It is inscribed TOUS/ AUX/ DANGERS/ TOUS/ A L'HONNEUR/ 1870-1871 (United in danger, united in honour 1870-1871) and with the initials AM for Ave Maria.
Paris surrendered to the forces of General Bismarck on the 28 January 1871 after a prolonged siege.

The firm of the jeweller François-Desiré Froment-Meurice made these rings to commemorate the siege. They were described by Queen magazine as 'some rings ... which the fair Parisiennes are purchasing to present to their husbands as a souvenir of the siege and foreigners are buying as a souvenir of Paris'.
Collection
Accession number
M.35-1982

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Record createdJuly 11, 2006
Record URL
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