Ring thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Ring

1700-1799 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This ring was acquired by the Museum in 1871 as part of a large collection of rings which had been assembled by the Victorian scholar Edmund Waterton. It was described at that time as a 16th-century Jewish wedding ring from Germany.

The description of Jewish marriage or betrothal ring is often applied to elaborate rings with Hebrew inscriptions. In the 19th century they were very popular with collectors and usually believed to be medieval or renaissance in date, although there are very few authenticated examples. These rings usually fall into a limited number of types. This example is not as flamboyant as many of the most popular designs, and may date from the 18th century. The hinged flap on the bezel, revealing the Hebrew words ‘mazal tov’ (good fortune), appears to have been added after the ring was made. Several other Jewish marriage rings show this characteristic.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Gilded bronze
Brief description
Gilt bronze band ring with bosses round the shank and a shallow opening box on the bezel, Germany, 1700-1799.
Physical description
Gilt bronze band ring with nine domed bosses, which are alternately plain and granulated, each separated from its neighbour by two small pellets. The outside rims of the band are grooved to imitate twisted wire. Because of the uneven number of domes two of the smooth ones are side by side. One of these is covered by a flat square plaque with a hinged cover, with a hinged prong to keep it closed.
Marks and inscriptions
מזל טוב (Inscribed on the plaque and the inside of the cover.)
Translation
Good fortune
Transliteration
Mazal Tov
Object history
ex Waterton Collection
Summary
This ring was acquired by the Museum in 1871 as part of a large collection of rings which had been assembled by the Victorian scholar Edmund Waterton. It was described at that time as a 16th-century Jewish wedding ring from Germany.

The description of Jewish marriage or betrothal ring is often applied to elaborate rings with Hebrew inscriptions. In the 19th century they were very popular with collectors and usually believed to be medieval or renaissance in date, although there are very few authenticated examples. These rings usually fall into a limited number of types. This example is not as flamboyant as many of the most popular designs, and may date from the 18th century. The hinged flap on the bezel, revealing the Hebrew words ‘mazal tov’ (good fortune), appears to have been added after the ring was made. Several other Jewish marriage rings show this characteristic.
Collection
Accession number
867-1871

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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