Signet Ring thumbnail 1
Signet Ring thumbnail 2

Signet Ring

1400-1500 (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 design which appears to be a cradle whilst the inscription on the back reads 'my wille were'

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Gold, engraved
Brief description
Gold signet ring with a circular bezel engraved with a cradle inscribed behind in black letter 'my wille were' , England, 1400-1500.
Physical description
Gold signet ring with a circular bezel engraved with a cradle inscribed behind in black letter my wille were
Dimensions
  • Height: 2.7cm
  • Width: 2.6cm
  • Depth: 1.4cm
Marks and inscriptions
'my wille were' (Inscribed behind in black letter)
Object history
ex Waterton Collectiuon
Subject depicted
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 design which appears to be a cradle whilst the inscription on the back reads 'my wille were'
Collection
Accession number
903-1871

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Record createdFebruary 15, 2006
Record URL
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