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Ring

Ring

  • Place of origin:

    Germany (made)

  • Date:

    1600-1650 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Gold, enamelled and set with a diamond

  • Credit Line:

    Given by Dame Joan Evans

  • Museum number:

    M.224-1975

  • Gallery location:

    Jewellery, room 91, case 8, shelf D, box 5

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This intricate wedding ring is decorated with symbols of love and quotations from the marriage ceremony. The central motif comes from the Italian mani in fede (hands clasped in faith), which was a popular symbol of love. The three connecting hoops, each with an attached hand or heart, fit together and appear as one band when worn. The inscriptions can only be read when the hoops of the ring are opened out.

Physical description

A gimmel ring made of three interlocking hoops. When worn the diamond-set heart at the front of the ring is encircled by a pair of clasped hands

Place of Origin

Germany (made)

Date

1600-1650 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown

Materials and Techniques

Gold, enamelled and set with a diamond

Marks and inscriptions

".MEIN. AN.FANCK. VND. ENDE." my beginning and end german; roman capitals; on the flat surface of the central hoop; enamelling
"WAS. GOTT. ZVSAMEN. FVGET. SOLL." what God has joined together should german; roman capitals; on the flat surface of the left hoop; enamelling
"KEIN. MENSCH. SCHEIDEN" no man put asunder german; roman capitals; on the flat surface of the right hoop; enamelling
""

Dimensions

Diameter: 2.3 cm (each hoop)

Historical context note

The second quotation from the marriage service, indicates that the ring was used as a marriage ring

Descriptive line

Marriage gimmel ring, enamelled gold set with a diamond. Inscribed in German, 'my beginning and my end' and 'What God has joined together let no man put asunder'. Germany, about 1600-50.

Materials

Gold; Enamel; Diamond

Techniques

Enamelled

Subjects depicted

Love; Hearts; Hands; Marriage; Fingers

Categories

Jewellery; Marriage; Metalwork

Collection code

MET

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Qr_O72588
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