Ring
after 1857 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This ring is a replica of the ring known as the Darnley Ring (841-1871),which has long been one of the best known rings in the V&A's collection. It is said to have been given by Mary, Queen of Scots to Henry, Lord Darnley in 1565 to celebrate their betrothal and marriage.
Supposedly found amongst the ruins of Fotheringhay Castle in Northamptonshire in 1820, the ring was exhibited to the Archaeological Institute, Salisbury in 1849, and had been acquired by Edmund Waterton by 1857, whose collection was purchased by the Museum in 1871. Scholarship had not questioned the authenticity of the ring's associations until the publication of the Jewellery Gallery Summary Catalogue (V&A, 1982) in which Shirley Bury suggests that the inscription may not be original. Nonetheless, the ring's compelling story inspired the production of many replicas for sale to the devoted admirers of Mary, Queen of Scots. Mary had long been celebrated as a tragic heroine in Scotland, but interest became more widespread in the early 19th century with the publication of Sir Walter Scott's 'Waverley' novels and the state visit by George IV in 1822.
This silver ring is one of a number of known replicas. Considerable differences between the replica and the original Darnley Ring suggest that the replicas were formed after an engraving of the ring published in the Archaeological Journal in 1857 (vol. XIV, 1857, pp.297-300), rather than the ring itself.
Supposedly found amongst the ruins of Fotheringhay Castle in Northamptonshire in 1820, the ring was exhibited to the Archaeological Institute, Salisbury in 1849, and had been acquired by Edmund Waterton by 1857, whose collection was purchased by the Museum in 1871. Scholarship had not questioned the authenticity of the ring's associations until the publication of the Jewellery Gallery Summary Catalogue (V&A, 1982) in which Shirley Bury suggests that the inscription may not be original. Nonetheless, the ring's compelling story inspired the production of many replicas for sale to the devoted admirers of Mary, Queen of Scots. Mary had long been celebrated as a tragic heroine in Scotland, but interest became more widespread in the early 19th century with the publication of Sir Walter Scott's 'Waverley' novels and the state visit by George IV in 1822.
This silver ring is one of a number of known replicas. Considerable differences between the replica and the original Darnley Ring suggest that the replicas were formed after an engraving of the ring published in the Archaeological Journal in 1857 (vol. XIV, 1857, pp.297-300), rather than the ring itself.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silver, engraved |
| Brief description | Silver ring (replica of the Darnley Ring); England, late 19th or early 20th century. |
| Physical description | Silver ring with inscriptions in imitation of the 'Darnley Ring' (see 841-1871). Its circular bezel is engraved with the letters H and M and on the inside the letters 'HENRI L DARNLEY 1565' surround a crowned shield featuring a lion rampant. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Given by Mr and Mrs B. Ellis |
| Object history | Found by the donors while renovating their home in Soutergate in 1987. |
| Historical context | This is a reproduction of a cast gold ring said to have been found near Fotheringay Castle before 1849 and now in the V&A (841-1871). The inscription and coat-of-arms refer to Mary Queen of Scots and her second husband Lord Henry Stuart Darnley (1541-67) whom she married on July 29, 1565. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Associations | |
| Summary | This ring is a replica of the ring known as the Darnley Ring (841-1871),which has long been one of the best known rings in the V&A's collection. It is said to have been given by Mary, Queen of Scots to Henry, Lord Darnley in 1565 to celebrate their betrothal and marriage. Supposedly found amongst the ruins of Fotheringhay Castle in Northamptonshire in 1820, the ring was exhibited to the Archaeological Institute, Salisbury in 1849, and had been acquired by Edmund Waterton by 1857, whose collection was purchased by the Museum in 1871. Scholarship had not questioned the authenticity of the ring's associations until the publication of the Jewellery Gallery Summary Catalogue (V&A, 1982) in which Shirley Bury suggests that the inscription may not be original. Nonetheless, the ring's compelling story inspired the production of many replicas for sale to the devoted admirers of Mary, Queen of Scots. Mary had long been celebrated as a tragic heroine in Scotland, but interest became more widespread in the early 19th century with the publication of Sir Walter Scott's 'Waverley' novels and the state visit by George IV in 1822. This silver ring is one of a number of known replicas. Considerable differences between the replica and the original Darnley Ring suggest that the replicas were formed after an engraving of the ring published in the Archaeological Journal in 1857 (vol. XIV, 1857, pp.297-300), rather than the ring itself. |
| Associated object | 841-1871 (Original) |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.32-2005 |
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| Record created | March 28, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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