Post-Medieval — 16th century
Amatory ring
A gold ring with thin hoop, decorated and expanding at the shoulders with stylised ? lover's knots. The oval shaped, partly profiled bezel depicts lovers face to face; their noses touching. The man seems to have a band around his head and wears a full beard. The woman wears a flat cap. The back of the bezel is engraved with a heart. surrounded by a series of thin lines (possibly sytlised fingers holding a heart). Unmarked.
This ring expresses the theme of love and was probably given in bethrothal or marriage. The lovers' heads are tightly compressed as though about to exchange a kiss. It is possible that the heart on the underside of the bezel is held by stylised fingers to reinforce the idea of union. Neilloed bezeled rings with a similar image were made in Umbria, Italy in the 15th century and it is possible that this ring comes from the same source.
- Category:
- Post-Medieval
- Object ID:
- 80.271/20
- Object name:
- Amatory ring
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- —
- Related people:
- Related events:
- Related places:
- Production date:
- 16th century
- Material:
gold
- Measurements/duration:
- DM 20 mm (hoop), H 10 mm, W 7 mm (bezel) (overall)
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 60%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Owner Status & Credit:
Permanent collection
- Copyright holder:
digital image © London Museum
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.