Ring
1800-30 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Snakes have been used in jewellery since the ancient Egyptians. They were associated with healing deities such as Isis in Egypt or the Greek God of medicine, Asclepius. They symbolised regeneration, healing and rebirth and therefore were used as a symbol of eternity. This association with regeneration and eternity led to their use on both love and mourning jewellery in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Queen Victoria's engagement ring was a snake with emerald eyes.
This ring is said to have been owned by George IV (1762-1830). He may be wearing it in a portrait by Sir Thomas Lawrence in the Wallace Collection (559).
This ring is said to have been owned by George IV (1762-1830). He may be wearing it in a portrait by Sir Thomas Lawrence in the Wallace Collection (559).
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Gold set with rubies |
| Brief description | Gold ring with a single serpent with three coils, the eyes set with rubies, England, early 1800-30. |
| Physical description | Gold ring with a single serpent with three coils, the eyes set with rubies |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Bequeathed by Mrs A. B. Woodcroft |
| Object history | Said to have been a favourite ring of King George IV who is perhaps wearing it in a portrait by Sir Thomas Lawrence in the Wallace Collection (559) Historical significance: The serpent ring, based on a Roman design, was internationally popular throughout the 19th century |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Snakes have been used in jewellery since the ancient Egyptians. They were associated with healing deities such as Isis in Egypt or the Greek God of medicine, Asclepius. They symbolised regeneration, healing and rebirth and therefore were used as a symbol of eternity. This association with regeneration and eternity led to their use on both love and mourning jewellery in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Queen Victoria's engagement ring was a snake with emerald eyes. This ring is said to have been owned by George IV (1762-1830). He may be wearing it in a portrait by Sir Thomas Lawrence in the Wallace Collection (559). |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 476-1903 |
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| Record created | November 7, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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