Signet Ring
1600-1650 (made)
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| Place of origin |
Signet rings are rings engraved, or cast, generally bearing a coat of arms, crest or cypher of entwined letters. They were used from the earliest times for the utilitarian purpose of authenticating a document by impressing the ring into heated wax to form a seal.
Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.
Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Cast and engraved gold (just under 23 carats standard). |
| Brief description | Gold, no hallmarks, London 1600-50, maker unidentified, engraved with the arms of Sir John Leman. |
| Physical description | A gold signet ring engraved with the arms of Sir John Leman; with three dolphins embowed. |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
| Object history | Provenance: By descent to the Rev. George Orgill Leman, Brampton Hall, 1847. R. G. Kahn Esq., 1950s. S. J. Phillips, Nov, 1998. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Signet rings are rings engraved, or cast, generally bearing a coat of arms, crest or cypher of entwined letters. They were used from the earliest times for the utilitarian purpose of authenticating a document by impressing the ring into heated wax to form a seal. Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996. |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.23-2008 |
About this object record
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| Record created | June 19, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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