Ring
17th century (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 short phrase or 'posy' on the inside of the hoop can be read as 'All is thine on this side of time' and may be either a religious or a romantic sentiment.
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 short phrase or 'posy' on the inside of the hoop can be read as 'All is thine on this side of time' and may be either a religious or a romantic sentiment.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Gold ring set with toadstone |
| Brief description | Gold ring the circular bezel set with a toadstone. The hoop is inscribed in italic All is thyn on this side time, England, 17th century. |
| Physical description | Gold ring the circular bezel set with a toadstone. The hoop is inscribed in italic All is thyn on this side time. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | All is thyn on this side time (inscription in italics on the hoop) |
| Credit line | Given by Dame Joan Evans |
| Object history | This ring was formerly part of the collection of Dame Joan Evans (1893-1977), art historian and collector. Early on she collected gems and jewels which resulted in the 1921 book, English Jewellery from the 5th Century BC to 1800. She published widely on jewellery, French medieval art and architecture. Evans was elected the first woman president of the Society of Antiquaries in 1959 (through 1964). She was a trustee of the British Museum (1963-67). In her personal life, she donated time and money to many charitable historic causes, nearly all of them anonymously. Her will left collections to the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, and the Birmingham City Art Gallery. She gave her gem and jewellery collection to the Victoria and Albert Museum through a series of gifts, beginning in 1960. Her association with the museum went back to her childhood and she developed personal friendships with the museum curators and Directors. In 1975, two years before her death aged 84, Joan Evans made over her remaining jewels to the museum, choosing to remain anonymous during her lifetime. As she wrote jokingly to curator Charles Oman, her village was ‘divided into those who think it must have been me and those who say it cannot have been because I am so shabby.’ |
| Association | |
| 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. The short phrase or 'posy' on the inside of the hoop can be read as 'All is thine on this side of time' and may be either a religious or a romantic sentiment. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.250-1962 |
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| Record created | August 3, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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