Silver ring with a horizontally ridged hoop engraved with the names of the Three Kings or Magi '+GASPAR MELCHION BALTHAZAR'. Europe, 1300-1400.

Silver ring with a horizontally ridged hoop engraved with the names of the Three Kings or Magi '+GASPAR MELCHION BALTHAZAR'.

Bought by Edmund Waterton in Rome in 1856.

The Three Kings or Magi represent the figures who brought gifts of myrrh, gold and frankincense to the new born Christ. A magnificent gold shrine containing relics of the Kings in Cologne Cathedral was one of the most visited pilgrimage sites of the middle ages. The names of the Magi were invoked in protective amulets and jewels. A manuscript from the 14th century (MS Arundell, 275, fol. 23) uses them as a cure for cramp: ‘Tak and ger gedir on Gude Fridai at fyfe parische kirkes fyfe of the first penyes that is offered at ye Crosse, of ilke a kirke the first penye: than tak them al and ga befor ye Crosse and say fyfe pater nesters in the worschip of fyfe wondes and beyre thaym on ye V dais and say ilk a day also mekil on the same wyse and then ger mak a ryng thar of with outen alay of other metal and writ within IASPER, BATASAR, ATTRAPA and writ with outen Ihc Nazarenus and sithin take it fra the goldsmith up on a Fridai, and say fyfe pater nesters als did before, and use it ever afterward.’ (Take and …on Good Friday at five parish churches of the first pennies that are offered at the Cross, of each church the first penny, then take them all and go before the Cross and say five Pater Nosters in the worship of the five wounds and bear them on the fifth day and say each a day also … on the same way and then have made a ring without alloy of any other metal and write within Caspar, Balthazar, Attrapa and write without IHC Nazarenus and take it from the goldsmith on a Friday and say five Pater Nosters as you did before, and use it ever afterwards). This combines the power of the names of the Magi along with the repeated use of the number five and the ritual use of metal from pennies consecrated in the church to make a powerful amulet.

Rings are the most commonly surviving medieval jewels. They were worn by both sexes, across all levels of society. Some portraits show wearers with multiple rings across all their fingers. Wearing a ring set with a gemstone or engraved with the figure of a saint, or inscribed with a religious or magical phrase was believed to protect against earthly and spiritual dangers. The names of the Three Kings or Magi (Caspar, Melchoir and Balthazar) engraved on a ring were thought to be particularly potent against fevers and cramps.

This ring forms part of a collection of over 600 rings and engraved gems from the collection of Edmund Waterton (1830-81). Waterton was one of the foremost ring collectors of the nineteenth century and was the author of several articles on rings, a book on English devotion to the Virgin Mary and an unfinished catalogue of his collection (the manuscript is now the National Art Library). Waterton was noted for his extravagance and financial troubles caused him to place his collection in pawn with the London jeweller Robert Phillips. When he was unable to repay the loan, Phillips offered to sell the collection to the Museum and it was acquired in 1871. A small group of rings which Waterton had held back were acquired in 1899.

Edmund Waterton used the fortune which was made by his family’s involvement in the British Guiana sugar plantations to put his collection together. His grandfather owned a plantation known as Walton Hall and his father, Charles Waterton, went to Guiana as a young man to help run La Jalousie and Fellowship, plantations which belonged to his uncles. When slavery was abolished in the British territories, Charles Waterton claimed £16283 6s 7d in government compensation and was recorded as having 300 slaves on the Walton Hall estate.

706-1871