{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O118180"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O118180/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BT1856/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BT1856/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2008BT1856","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2009BY8412","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2009BX8480","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2008BT1994","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2008BT1860","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2008BT1859","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2008BT1858","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2008BT1857","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O118180/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O118180","accessionNumber":"M.256-1962","objectType":"Signet ring","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Signet, or 'seal' rings, are rings that incorporate a seal matrix used for sealing documents for authentication. From the thirteenth century, the growth in trade and written contracts led to a greater increase in the use of seals by members of the merchant and landowning groups. As these groups were generally not entitled to bear arms, they used instead such personalised motifs, or 'devices', as birds. Merchant's or guild marks were also used, as were the owner's initials.\r\n\r\nReligious or magical inscriptions sometimes decorate the hoop. Here, the ring is inscribed 'God help William'.","physicalDescription":"Signet ring, silver. The circular bezel engraved with the initial 'W' between two palms, the exterior of the hoop inscribed in black lettering 'god x help x williem'.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silver","id":"AAT11029"}],"techniques":[{"text":"engraving","id":"AAT53829"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Silver, engraved","categories":[{"text":"Jewellery","id":"THES48930"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Europeana Fashion Project","id":"THES265804"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2008BT1856","2009BY8412","2009BX8480","2008BT1994","2008BT1860","2008BT1859","2008BT1858","2008BT1857"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"62 (VA)","id":"THES49739"},"free":"","case":"CA8","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Ring","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1450-1550","earliest":"1450-01-01","latest":"1550-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Dame Joan Evans","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"2.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"1.30","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Measured for the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'god x help x williem'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Inscribed on the exterior of the hoop, in black lettering"},{"content":"W","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"inscribed in black letter"}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Silver signet ring with the initial 'W' between two palms on the bezel, the hoop inscribed in black letter 'god x help x williem', England, 1450-1550","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Bury, Shirley, <u>Jewellery Gallery Summary Catalogue</u>. London, Victoria and Albert Museum, 1982, 33 F 4  ISBN. 090520929X"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Campbell, Marian, <u>Medieval Jewellery in Europe 1100-1500</u>, London, V&A Publishing, 2009, p.78, fig.83"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Church, Rachel, <u>Rings</u>, London, V&A Publishing, 2011, p. 27, fig. 32"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[{"text":"Evans, Joan Dame","id":"C4535"}],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["M.256-1962"],"accessionNumberNum":"256","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1962,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LN7876","2019LU2036","2019LV2217"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-08","recordCreationDate":"2005-11-04","availableToBook":false}}