{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O121102"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O121102/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2007BL8601/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2007BL8601/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2007BL8601","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2007BL8602","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006BG2791","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O121102/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O121102","accessionNumber":"M.215-1975","objectType":"Signet ring","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This ring would have been used as a signet, pressed into hot wax to seal a letter or packet.  Personal seals (secreta) provided an essential legal safeguard and were used to witness documents such as wills, deeds of  gift, loans and commercial documents,  personal letters and land indentures. \n\nSignet rings could be  engraved with a  coat of arms  or crest, an initial, a merchant's mark (a geometric symbol used to mark goods or personal  belongings), or a personal symbol.  Sixteenth and seventeenth century portraits show signet rings worn on the forefinger or thumb, presumably to make it easy to apply  the ring to the wax by turning the hand. They were items of jewellery with a practical function but the use of precious metals and  engraved hardstones indicates that they were also signs of status. \n\nThe bezel of this ring is engraved with a hand holding a bunch of flowers (perhaps a personal or family device) and the name John Devereux. The shoulders are engraved with Tau crosses, associated with St Anthony and believe to protect against various sicknesses. The ring therefore combines a practical, business function with an amuletic role. ","physicalDescription":"Gold signet ring with a circular bezel engraved with a hand holding five flowers and inscribed in black letter <i>iohn: devereux</i> The shoulders engraved with Tau crosses and sprigs, with traces of black enamel","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"gold","id":"AAT11021"}],"techniques":[{"text":"engraving (incising)","id":"AAT53829"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Engraved gold with traces of black enamel","categories":[{"text":"Jewellery","id":"THES48930"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Europeana Fashion Project","id":"THES265804"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2007BL8601","2007BL8602","2006BG2791"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"91 (VA)","id":"THES49703"},"free":"","case":"9","shelf":"A","box":"8"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Ring","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1480-1600","earliest":"1480-01-01","latest":"1600-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Dame Joan Evans","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"2.5","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":"1.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"inscribed <i>iohn: devereux</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":"in black letter"}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"The Tau cross was associated with St. Anthony, whose intervention was sought to protect against erysipelas and other diseases","briefDescription":"Gold signet ring with a circular bezel engraved with a hand holding five flowers and inscribed in black letter <i>iohn: devereux</i> The shoulders engraved with Tau crosses and sprigs, with traces of black enamel, England, 1480-1600.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[{"text":"Evans, Joan Dame","id":"C4535"}],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"tau crosses","id":"AAT10091"},{"text":"Flowers","id":"x31099"},{"text":"hands","id":"x31539"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["M.215-1975"],"accessionNumberNum":"215","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1975,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LP9288","2019LT2184","2019LW1520"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-08","recordCreationDate":"2006-02-15","availableToBook":false}}