{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O120977"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O120977/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2007BM1008/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2007BM1008/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2007BM1008","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2007BM1009","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O120977/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O120977","accessionNumber":"M.471-1936","objectType":"Signet ring","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Rings are the most commonly surviving medieval jewels. They were worn by both sexes, across all levels of society. Some portraits show wearers with multiple rings across all their fingers. Although rings were worn for decoration, they also had important practical functions. Signet rings such as this one were pressed into sealing wax to create a unique, legally recognised signature. Signets could be engraved with a coat of arms for those entitled to bear them, with a personal device or simply with an initial letter. The most valuable signet rings were made of gold, sometimes set with an engraved hardstone. Cheaper versions were made of silver or sometimes bronze. ","physicalDescription":"Nielloed silver signet ring with an octagonal bezel engraved with a coat of arms and inscription in black letter variant. The coat of arms consists of a shield with three cinquefoils above two sprays. The inscription may possibly read 'benedictus deus'. ","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 and nielloed","categories":[{"text":"Jewellery","id":"THES48930"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2007BM1008","2007BM1009"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"91","id":"THES49703"},"free":"","case":"6","shelf":"A","box":"7"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Ring","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Europe","id":"x28842"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"15th century","earliest":"1400-01-01","latest":"1500-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Dr Egger","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"2.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"2.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"1.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Inscribed in black letter variant","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Nielloed silver signet ring with an octagonal bezel engraved with a coat of arms and inscription in black letter variant, Europe, possibly Hungary, 15th century","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"escutcheons (coats of arms)","id":"AAT138227"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["M.471-1936"],"accessionNumberNum":"471","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1936,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LR0307","2019LT5488","2019LU2247"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-08","recordCreationDate":"2006-02-13","availableToBook":false}}