Ring thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Jewellery, Rooms 91 to 93 mezzanine, The William and Judith Bollinger Gallery

Ring

1820-1866 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Although traditional jewellery was worn throughout Sweden, and has a distinct Swedish character, there are marked differences between the different provinces. Skåne province, in the extreme south of Sweden, has the richest tradition, and more jewellery was worn there than in any other district. Almost all the Swedish traditional jewellery at the V&A comes from Skåne.

Swedish rings were usually made of thin sheet silver, often decorated with coloured glass or pendants. They were often given at marriage, but were part of the dowry wealth, not true wedding rings. The bride and groom did not exchange rings in Sweden until the late 19th century.

This ring comes from Skåne. It has the maker's mark ARF. Anders Reinhold Flinkenberg was a silversmith who specialised in traditional jewellery, who worked in Simrishamn from 1820 to 1866. The red glass stone is typical of Swedish traditional jewellery of all kinds in the 19th century.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Stamped silver with red paste
Brief description
Stamped silver ring set with a red paste, Skåne (Sweden), 19th century.
Physical description
Ring made from a band of thin sheet silver, widening to form an oval bezel, with an overall stamped pattern, set with a facetted red paste in the centre.
Dimensions
  • Height: 2.5cm
  • Width: 2.5cm
  • Depth: 2.9cm
Marks and inscriptions
'ARF' (On the back of the shank, on the outside edge.)
Translation
Mark of Anders Reinhold Flinkenberg of Simrishamn
Summary
Although traditional jewellery was worn throughout Sweden, and has a distinct Swedish character, there are marked differences between the different provinces. Skåne province, in the extreme south of Sweden, has the richest tradition, and more jewellery was worn there than in any other district. Almost all the Swedish traditional jewellery at the V&A comes from Skåne.

Swedish rings were usually made of thin sheet silver, often decorated with coloured glass or pendants. They were often given at marriage, but were part of the dowry wealth, not true wedding rings. The bride and groom did not exchange rings in Sweden until the late 19th century.

This ring comes from Skåne. It has the maker's mark ARF. Anders Reinhold Flinkenberg was a silversmith who specialised in traditional jewellery, who worked in Simrishamn from 1820 to 1866. The red glass stone is typical of Swedish traditional jewellery of all kinds in the 19th century.
Collection
Accession number
475-1886

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Record createdJuly 13, 2007
Record URL
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