{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O121060"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O121060/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2007BM1006/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2007BM1006/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2007BM1006","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2007BM1007","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O121060/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O121060","accessionNumber":"M.277-1962","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 hot sealing wax to create a unique, legally recognised signature. \r\n\r\nSignets 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 bezel and shoulders of this gold ring are set with a coat of arms in a shield. \n\nBefore this ring was acquired by the V&amp;A, it was in the collections of two great rings collectors, Ernest Guilhou and Dame Joan Evans. \r\n","physicalDescription":"Gold signet ring with a circular bezel engraved with a coat of arms and inscribed in lombardic characters <i>+ S:MENTO:SASO.</i>. With applied shields on the shoulders. The arms are described as 'Barry, on a fesse, three fleurs de lys'. The same arms are shown on the bezel and the shoulders. ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"gold","id":"AAT11021"}],"techniques":[{"text":"inscribed","id":"x29565"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Engraved gold","categories":[{"text":"Jewellery","id":"THES48930"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Europeana Fashion Project","id":"THES265804"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2007BM1006","2007BM1007"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"91","id":"THES49703"},"free":"","case":"6","shelf":"A","box":"8"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Ring","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Italy","id":"x28927"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"possibly"},{"place":{"text":"Spain","id":"x29170"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"possibly"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"early 14th century","earliest":"1300-01-01","latest":"1350-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Dame Joan Evans","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"2.1","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"2.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"1.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"engraved with a coat of arms","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""},{"content":"inscribed <i>+ S:MENTO:SASO.</i>. \r\n<i>S:</i> signifies 'sigillum' or seal. ","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"in lombardic characters"},{"content":"inscribed <i>IHS. E. M. IHS +</i>","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Inside the hoop"}],"objectHistory":"An Italian ring in the British Museum collection (Dalton, 247) is also set with shields on the shoulders. ","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Gold signet ring with a circular bezel engraved with a coat of arms and inscribed in lombardic characters <i>+ S:MENTO:SASO.</i>. With applied shields on the shoulders, Spain or Italy, early 14th century","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Sotheby and Co, Catalogue of the superb collection of rings, including choice examples of all periods from the Egypt of the Pharaohs to the France of Napoleon I, formed by the late Monsieur E. Guilhou of Paris, November 1937, London, cat. 562"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Taylor, Gerald and Scarisbrick, Diana <u>Finger rings from ancient Egypt to the present day</u>, Oxford: Ashmolean Museum press, 1978, cat. 334"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[{"text":"Evans, Joan Dame","id":"C4535"}],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"escutcheons (coats of arms)","id":"AAT138227"},{"text":"shields (motifs)","id":"AAT230284"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["M.277-1962"],"accessionNumberNum":"277","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1962,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LM6029","2019LN4315","2019LT7278","2019LX0747"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-08","recordCreationDate":"2006-02-14","availableToBook":false}}