Ring
1800-1850 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Schwäbisch Gmünd, a small town in south Germany, has produced silver objects and jewellery since the 14th century. By the first half of the 19th century it was the main centre of production for small silver items in the region. The silversmiths specialised in popular and devotional jewellery. They sold their work at markets throughout the Alpine region, and at major international trade fairs all over Europe. They also obtained lucrative contracts to mass-produce devotional jewels for the numerous places of pilgrimage in Austria, Bavaria and Switzerland.
This ring, with the image of the Virgin of Neukirchen beim Heiligen Blut, would have been worn by a Catholic woman in south Germany or Austria. The Virgin was greatly venerated in that region, particularly at the many places of pilgrimage dedicated to her. Red glass pastes are typical of jewellery from the south German region, as is the diagonal pattern on the shank. It is marked on the outside of the shank with the unicorn’s head mark of Schwäbisch Gmünd, and the silver mark 13.
This ring, with the image of the Virgin of Neukirchen beim Heiligen Blut, would have been worn by a Catholic woman in south Germany or Austria. The Virgin was greatly venerated in that region, particularly at the many places of pilgrimage dedicated to her. Red glass pastes are typical of jewellery from the south German region, as is the diagonal pattern on the shank. It is marked on the outside of the shank with the unicorn’s head mark of Schwäbisch Gmünd, and the silver mark 13.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Silver, partly gilt, with red pastes |
Brief description | Silver ring with the Virgin and Child on the bezel, surrounded by red pastes, Schwäbisch Gmünd (South Germany), 1800-1850. |
Physical description | Silver ring with broad band decorated with diagonal bars of ring punching. The bezel is a large oval of pierced sheet silver, with a gilt applique of the Virgin and Child in the centre, parallel to the band, surrounded by a ring of eleven (originally twelve) faceted red glass pastes. |
Dimensions |
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Marks and inscriptions |
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Subject depicted | |
Summary | Schwäbisch Gmünd, a small town in south Germany, has produced silver objects and jewellery since the 14th century. By the first half of the 19th century it was the main centre of production for small silver items in the region. The silversmiths specialised in popular and devotional jewellery. They sold their work at markets throughout the Alpine region, and at major international trade fairs all over Europe. They also obtained lucrative contracts to mass-produce devotional jewels for the numerous places of pilgrimage in Austria, Bavaria and Switzerland. This ring, with the image of the Virgin of Neukirchen beim Heiligen Blut, would have been worn by a Catholic woman in south Germany or Austria. The Virgin was greatly venerated in that region, particularly at the many places of pilgrimage dedicated to her. Red glass pastes are typical of jewellery from the south German region, as is the diagonal pattern on the shank. It is marked on the outside of the shank with the unicorn’s head mark of Schwäbisch Gmünd, and the silver mark 13. |
Collection | |
Accession number | 979-1871 |
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Record created | September 21, 2007 |
Record URL |
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