Signet Ring
1480-1600 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This ring would have been used as a signet, pressed into hot wax to seal a letter or packet. Personal seals (secreta) provided an essential legal safeguard and were used to witness documents such as wills, deeds of gift, loans and commercial documents, personal letters and land indentures.
Signet rings could be engraved with a coat of arms or crest, an initial, a merchant's mark (a geometric symbol used to mark goods or personal belongings), or a personal symbol. Sixteenth and seventeenth century portraits show signet rings worn on the forefinger or thumb, presumably to make it easy to apply the ring to the wax by turning the hand. They were items of jewellery with a practical function but the use of precious metals and engraved hardstones indicates that they were also signs of status.
The bezel of this ring is engraved with a hand holding a bunch of flowers (perhaps a personal or family device) and the name John Devereux. The shoulders are engraved with Tau crosses, associated with St Anthony and believe to protect against various sicknesses. The ring therefore combines a practical, business function with an amuletic role.
Signet rings could be engraved with a coat of arms or crest, an initial, a merchant's mark (a geometric symbol used to mark goods or personal belongings), or a personal symbol. Sixteenth and seventeenth century portraits show signet rings worn on the forefinger or thumb, presumably to make it easy to apply the ring to the wax by turning the hand. They were items of jewellery with a practical function but the use of precious metals and engraved hardstones indicates that they were also signs of status.
The bezel of this ring is engraved with a hand holding a bunch of flowers (perhaps a personal or family device) and the name John Devereux. The shoulders are engraved with Tau crosses, associated with St Anthony and believe to protect against various sicknesses. The ring therefore combines a practical, business function with an amuletic role.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Engraved gold with traces of black enamel |
| Brief description | Gold signet ring with a circular bezel engraved with a hand holding five flowers and inscribed in black letter iohn: devereux The shoulders engraved with Tau crosses and sprigs, with traces of black enamel, England, 1480-1600. |
| Physical description | Gold signet ring with a circular bezel engraved with a hand holding five flowers and inscribed in black letter iohn: devereux The shoulders engraved with Tau crosses and sprigs, with traces of black enamel |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | inscribed iohn: devereux Note in black letter |
| Credit line | Given by Dame Joan Evans |
| Historical context | The Tau cross was associated with St. Anthony, whose intervention was sought to protect against erysipelas and other diseases |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Association | |
| Summary | This ring would have been used as a signet, pressed into hot wax to seal a letter or packet. Personal seals (secreta) provided an essential legal safeguard and were used to witness documents such as wills, deeds of gift, loans and commercial documents, personal letters and land indentures. Signet rings could be engraved with a coat of arms or crest, an initial, a merchant's mark (a geometric symbol used to mark goods or personal belongings), or a personal symbol. Sixteenth and seventeenth century portraits show signet rings worn on the forefinger or thumb, presumably to make it easy to apply the ring to the wax by turning the hand. They were items of jewellery with a practical function but the use of precious metals and engraved hardstones indicates that they were also signs of status. The bezel of this ring is engraved with a hand holding a bunch of flowers (perhaps a personal or family device) and the name John Devereux. The shoulders are engraved with Tau crosses, associated with St Anthony and believe to protect against various sicknesses. The ring therefore combines a practical, business function with an amuletic role. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.215-1975 |
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| Record created | February 15, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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