Ring thumbnail 1
Ring thumbnail 2
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Ring

1600-1650 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This intricate wedding ring is decorated with symbols of love and quotations from the marriage ceremony. The central motif comes from the Italian mani in fede (hands clasped in faith), which was a popular symbol of love. The three connecting hoops, each with an attached hand or heart, fit together and appear as one band when worn. The inscriptions can only be read when the hoops of the ring are opened out.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Gold, enamelled and set with a diamond
Brief description
Marriage gimmel ring, enamelled gold set with a diamond. Inscribed in German, 'my beginning and my end' and 'What God has joined together let no man put asunder'. Germany, about 1600-50.
Physical description
A gimmel ring made of three interlocking hoops. When worn the diamond-set heart at the front of the ring is encircled by a pair of clasped hands
Dimensions
  • Each hoop diameter: 2.3cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • .MEIN. AN.FANCK. VND. ENDE. (german; roman capitals; on the flat surface of the central hoop; enamelling)
    Translation
    my beginning and end
  • WAS. GOTT. ZVSAMEN. FVGET. SOLL. (german; roman capitals; on the flat surface of the left hoop; enamelling)
    Translation
    what God has joined together should
  • KEIN. MENSCH. SCHEIDEN (german; roman capitals; on the flat surface of the right hoop; enamelling)
    Translation
    no man put asunder
Credit line
Given by Dame Joan Evans
Historical context
The second quotation from the marriage service, indicates that the ring was used as a marriage ring
Subjects depicted
Summary
This intricate wedding ring is decorated with symbols of love and quotations from the marriage ceremony. The central motif comes from the Italian mani in fede (hands clasped in faith), which was a popular symbol of love. The three connecting hoops, each with an attached hand or heart, fit together and appear as one band when worn. The inscriptions can only be read when the hoops of the ring are opened out.
Bibliographic reference
Illustrated on cover of Gender, Sexuality, and Material Objects in English Renaissance Verse, Pamela S. Hammons
Collection
Accession number
M.224-1975

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Record createdJanuary 7, 2003
Record URL
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