Ring
1600-1700 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
A belief in the magical or curative properties of gemstones, minerals and other natural materials has long existed. The brown stone set into this ring was known as a toadstone. Toadstones were especially popular in the Middle Ages and Renaissance periods. They were most often set in rings - the natural shape of the toadstone fitted a ring bezel well, and the toadstone could be worn daily and touched or monitored for any changes.
The round, brown toadstone, also known as 'crapaudine' or 'crappot', was believed to be effective against kidney disease and was a sure talisman of earthly happiness, according to Johannes de Cuba, writing in his Hortus Sanitatis (Garden of Health) in 1498. Wearers also believed that it would give off heat if exposed to poison. This was described by Fenton in 1569 "Being used in rings they give forewarning of venom". In 1627, Lupton claimed that ‘A Tode stone (called Crapaudina) touching any part be venomed, hurte or stung with Ratte, Spider, Waspe or any other venomous Beasts, ceases the paine or swelling thereof’. It was also said to protect pregnant women from fairies and demons and to prevent their child being exchanged for a changeling.
Toadstones were highly valued and often appeared in contemporary literature – according to Shakespeare’s ‘As you like it’:
‘Sweet are the uses of adversity;
Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous,
Wears yet a precious jewel in his head.’
They were included in the stock of many jewellers. An unmounted toadstone was found as part of the Cheapside Hoard (now in the Museum of London), the stock of a 17th century jeweller which was found in the cellar of a London house in the early 20th century.
Despite the name and former beliefs, toadstones are the fossilised teeth of a fish of the Jurassic and Cretaceous period called 'Lepidotes'. Lepidotes had a mouth with a wide palate set with rows of rounded, peg-like teeth which it used to crush the shells of molluscs.
The round, brown toadstone, also known as 'crapaudine' or 'crappot', was believed to be effective against kidney disease and was a sure talisman of earthly happiness, according to Johannes de Cuba, writing in his Hortus Sanitatis (Garden of Health) in 1498. Wearers also believed that it would give off heat if exposed to poison. This was described by Fenton in 1569 "Being used in rings they give forewarning of venom". In 1627, Lupton claimed that ‘A Tode stone (called Crapaudina) touching any part be venomed, hurte or stung with Ratte, Spider, Waspe or any other venomous Beasts, ceases the paine or swelling thereof’. It was also said to protect pregnant women from fairies and demons and to prevent their child being exchanged for a changeling.
Toadstones were highly valued and often appeared in contemporary literature – according to Shakespeare’s ‘As you like it’:
‘Sweet are the uses of adversity;
Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous,
Wears yet a precious jewel in his head.’
They were included in the stock of many jewellers. An unmounted toadstone was found as part of the Cheapside Hoard (now in the Museum of London), the stock of a 17th century jeweller which was found in the cellar of a London house in the early 20th century.
Despite the name and former beliefs, toadstones are the fossilised teeth of a fish of the Jurassic and Cretaceous period called 'Lepidotes'. Lepidotes had a mouth with a wide palate set with rows of rounded, peg-like teeth which it used to crush the shells of molluscs.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Gold set with toadstone |
| Brief description | Gold ring with a circular bezel set with a toadstone, possibly England, 1600-1700. |
| Physical description | Gold ring with a circular bezel set with a toadstone. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by the Rev. R. Brooke |
| Object history | This ring was part of the Brooke collection which was donated to the V&A in 1864. The Brooke collection includes objects relating to the Brooke family along with the Osbaldestons, who were closely related. Museum papers record that: “The Reverend R. Brooke, Gateforth House, Selby, presented, in February 1864, a collection of articles of personal use of the 17th and 18th centuries, being the accumulated memorials of an English family for three or four generations; the most important are watches, rings, seals, lace and court dresses; the total number of objects is 396.” The gift also included 718 books for the new National Art Library (Eighteenth Report of the Science and Art Department of the Committee of Council on Education, London, 1865, pp.40-41). The minutes also stipulate “That Mr and Mrs Brooke, and the future possessors of the ‘Gateforth Estate’, provided they bear the name and are of the present family of ‘Brooke’, to have the privilege secured to them (by memorandum recorded in the Books of the Museum, and by possession of a Free Pass Ticket) of entrance into the Museum and Library and the Horticultural Gardens attached, on the holding of any scientific or other meetings, and on all other public occasions.’ |
| Summary | A belief in the magical or curative properties of gemstones, minerals and other natural materials has long existed. The brown stone set into this ring was known as a toadstone. Toadstones were especially popular in the Middle Ages and Renaissance periods. They were most often set in rings - the natural shape of the toadstone fitted a ring bezel well, and the toadstone could be worn daily and touched or monitored for any changes. The round, brown toadstone, also known as 'crapaudine' or 'crappot', was believed to be effective against kidney disease and was a sure talisman of earthly happiness, according to Johannes de Cuba, writing in his Hortus Sanitatis (Garden of Health) in 1498. Wearers also believed that it would give off heat if exposed to poison. This was described by Fenton in 1569 "Being used in rings they give forewarning of venom". In 1627, Lupton claimed that ‘A Tode stone (called Crapaudina) touching any part be venomed, hurte or stung with Ratte, Spider, Waspe or any other venomous Beasts, ceases the paine or swelling thereof’. It was also said to protect pregnant women from fairies and demons and to prevent their child being exchanged for a changeling. Toadstones were highly valued and often appeared in contemporary literature – according to Shakespeare’s ‘As you like it’: ‘Sweet are the uses of adversity; Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in his head.’ They were included in the stock of many jewellers. An unmounted toadstone was found as part of the Cheapside Hoard (now in the Museum of London), the stock of a 17th century jeweller which was found in the cellar of a London house in the early 20th century. Despite the name and former beliefs, toadstones are the fossilised teeth of a fish of the Jurassic and Cretaceous period called 'Lepidotes'. Lepidotes had a mouth with a wide palate set with rows of rounded, peg-like teeth which it used to crush the shells of molluscs. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 389-1864 |
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| Record created | July 28, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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