Ring
1500-50 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
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.
The letters IHC on the bezel are a Christogram based on the first three letters of the name Jesus in Greek. This abbreviation was given particular prominence from the 15th century by the Franciscan preacher Saint Bernadino of Siena. He persuaded warring Italian city states to lay down their arms and replace them with banners bearing the letters IHS (sometimes expressed as IHC). It could also be understood as the name 'Iesus Hominum Salvator' (Jesus the Saviour of Mankind'). Wearing a ring with Christian symbols was an outward sign of faith and allowed the wearer to incorporate their religious devotions into daily life.
The letters IHC on the bezel are a Christogram based on the first three letters of the name Jesus in Greek. This abbreviation was given particular prominence from the 15th century by the Franciscan preacher Saint Bernadino of Siena. He persuaded warring Italian city states to lay down their arms and replace them with banners bearing the letters IHS (sometimes expressed as IHC). It could also be understood as the name 'Iesus Hominum Salvator' (Jesus the Saviour of Mankind'). Wearing a ring with Christian symbols was an outward sign of faith and allowed the wearer to incorporate their religious devotions into daily life.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Engraved gold |
| Brief description | Gold ring, depicting the Sacred Monogram IHC in a heart-shaped bezel, England, 1500-50. |
| Physical description | Gold ring, depicting the Sacred Monogram in a heart-shaped bezel |
| Dimensions |
|
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | 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. The letters IHC on the bezel are a Christogram based on the first three letters of the name Jesus in Greek. This abbreviation was given particular prominence from the 15th century by the Franciscan preacher Saint Bernadino of Siena. He persuaded warring Italian city states to lay down their arms and replace them with banners bearing the letters IHS (sometimes expressed as IHC). It could also be understood as the name 'Iesus Hominum Salvator' (Jesus the Saviour of Mankind'). Wearing a ring with Christian symbols was an outward sign of faith and allowed the wearer to incorporate their religious devotions into daily life. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 740-1877 |
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| Record created | March 3, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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