Ring
1750-1850 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The stone in this ring is the operculum of the shell of a sea-snail from the Mediterranean. These shells have been worn as amulets in many southern European countries since at least Roman times, and were also popular in southern Germany and Austria. When worn by a woman, as the size of this ring suggests it was, the operculum was believed to promote fertility and facilitate pregnancy and child-birth.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silver set with the operculum of a shell |
| Brief description | Silver ring set with an operculum, Bavaria (Germany), 1750-1850. |
| Physical description | Silver ring set with an operculum. The shank has split shoulders, one of which is covered by a pierced trefoil. |
| Dimensions |
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| Summary | The stone in this ring is the operculum of the shell of a sea-snail from the Mediterranean. These shells have been worn as amulets in many southern European countries since at least Roman times, and were also popular in southern Germany and Austria. When worn by a woman, as the size of this ring suggests it was, the operculum was believed to promote fertility and facilitate pregnancy and child-birth. |
| Bibliographic reference | For similar, see:
Röhrs, Ursula. 'Der Ring. 500 Jahre Schmuck, Magie, Handwerk und Design', Schwäbisch Gmüund, 2011, figs. 66-7 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 896-1872 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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