15th-Century Iconographic Ring
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An English late medieval silver-gilt iconographic ring, dating to the 15th century; a devotional jewel of the type worn in England during the decades around 1400–1500. The hoop is broad and faceted, widening at the front into three engraved panels set between raised ridges. Each panel bears a saintly figure: St Christopher to the left, the Madonna and Child to the centre, and St Barbara to the right. These were not merely decorative subjects; they belonged to the late medieval world of personal devotion, protection and intercession, with rings such as this functioning as portable religious images worn directly on the body.The shoulders are engraved with foliate ornament, with twisted ridges at the back of the band and traces of original gilding surviving over the silver. The surface has a strong archaeological patina; the gilding is worn and interrupted, exposing the darker-toned silver beneath, but the iconography remains notably legible. The structure is sound and the ring remains wearable with appropriate care. It measures approximately 1cm wide at the front and 5mm at the back, weighs 7.45g, and is a UK size U / US 10.Iconographic rings of this kind were worn by both men and women in the 15th century, and period portraits show rings worn in quantity across the fingers rather than singly. Surviving examples also suggest their role as devotional gifts, betrothal tokens, and New Year’s gifts. Comparable medieval iconographic rings are held in major collections: the Victoria and Albert Museum example M.245-1962 was reportedly found in Ely Cathedral in 1772, near the supposed grave of Bishop Northwold, while the British Museum holds a 15th-century iconographic ring from Fressingfield, Suffolk.A rare and characterful 15th-century English silver-gilt iconographic ring; exceptionally evocative of late medieval religious jewellery and the devotional life of the wearer.
An English late medieval silver-gilt iconographic ring, dating to the 15th century; a devotional jewel of the type worn in England during the decades around 1400–1500. The hoop is broad and faceted, widening at the front into three engraved panels set between raised ridges. Each panel bears a saintly figure: St Christopher to the left, the Madonna and Child to the centre, and St Barbara to the right. These were not merely decorative subjects; they belonged to the late medieval world of personal devotion, protection and intercession, with rings such as this functioning as portable religious images worn directly on the body.
The shoulders are engraved with foliate ornament, with twisted ridges at the back of the band and traces of original gilding surviving over the silver. The surface has a strong archaeological patina; the gilding is worn and interrupted, exposing the darker-toned silver beneath, but the iconography remains notably legible. The structure is sound and the ring remains wearable with appropriate care. It measures approximately 1cm wide at the front and 5mm at the back, weighs 7.45g, and is a UK size U / US 10.
Iconographic rings of this kind were worn by both men and women in the 15th century, and period portraits show rings worn in quantity across the fingers rather than singly. Surviving examples also suggest their role as devotional gifts, betrothal tokens, and New Year’s gifts. Comparable medieval iconographic rings are held in major collections: the Victoria and Albert Museum example M.245-1962 was reportedly found in Ely Cathedral in 1772, near the supposed grave of Bishop Northwold, while the British Museum holds a 15th-century iconographic ring from Fressingfield, Suffolk.
A rare and characterful 15th-century English silver-gilt iconographic ring; exceptionally evocative of late medieval religious jewellery and the devotional life of the wearer.
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