Ring
1872
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This ring commemorates the annexation of the French provinces of Alsace and Lorraine by Prussian troops at the end of the Franco-Prussian war (19 July 1870 – 10 May 1871). The armies of the French Emperoror Napoleon III were defeated by the German troops under the direction of the Prussian chancellor Otto van Bismarck. The Treaty of Frankfurt concluded hostilities but conceded Alsace and Lorraine to the newly unified Germany. The loss of the provinces was felt as a national source of grief and humiliation in France. Commemorative jewellery, in traditional forms such as the double armed Lorraine cross or decorated with the thistle emblem became popular. Rings such as this one, were enamelled with the French colours and the names of the provinces, along with the motto 'Espoir' or 'France'.
The V&A acquired this as part of a group of patriotic jewels in 1872 from C. J. Ott, Strasbourg.
The V&A acquired this as part of a group of patriotic jewels in 1872 from C. J. Ott, Strasbourg.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silver and enamel |
| Brief description | Patriotic ring with French colours and the words Alsace- Lorraine around the hoop. Silver and enamel, France, Strasbourg. About 1872. |
| Physical description | Ring with French colours and the word 'Espoir' on a shield shaped bezel and the words 'Alsace' and 'Lorraine' around the hoop. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | Part of a group of patriotic rings made to protest against the annexation of the department of Alsace-Lorraine by Germany. Bought from C.J. Ott of Strasbourg. |
| Summary | This ring commemorates the annexation of the French provinces of Alsace and Lorraine by Prussian troops at the end of the Franco-Prussian war (19 July 1870 – 10 May 1871). The armies of the French Emperoror Napoleon III were defeated by the German troops under the direction of the Prussian chancellor Otto van Bismarck. The Treaty of Frankfurt concluded hostilities but conceded Alsace and Lorraine to the newly unified Germany. The loss of the provinces was felt as a national source of grief and humiliation in France. Commemorative jewellery, in traditional forms such as the double armed Lorraine cross or decorated with the thistle emblem became popular. Rings such as this one, were enamelled with the French colours and the names of the provinces, along with the motto 'Espoir' or 'France'. The V&A acquired this as part of a group of patriotic jewels in 1872 from C. J. Ott, Strasbourg. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 665-1872 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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