{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O121148"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O121148/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2017JX4971/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2017JX4971/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2017JX4971","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017JX4972","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017JX4973","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O121148/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O121148","accessionNumber":"843-1871","objectType":"Ring","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Rings with a bezel of clasped hands, such as this one, are often known as 'fede' rings.  The expression <i>fede</i> or <i>mani in fede</i>  is taken from  the Italian, meaning 'hands clasped in trust'.  The term was popular among nineteenth-century collectors, though it is found as early as the seventeenth century. Among the definitions of 'fede' in John Florio's 1611 Dictionarie of the Italian and English Tongues is 'a ring made with hand in hand'.  The term ‘hand in hand’ was common in 16th and 17th century England, for example in the ring left by Johan Broucker to her sister in 1577, described as a 'ringe of golde with an hande in hande'.  \n\r\nThe device of clasped hands can be seen much earlier on Roman rings where it signified an alliance, whether political, in marriage or in friendship. By the medieval period, the gesture probably refers to the handclasp which was an integral part of the marriage service. Although a legal marriage in the medieval world could  be formed  simply by a couple exchanging vows and sealing the agreement with a handclasp, the exchange of a ring solemnised  the  occasion and could act as a visual proof if the marriage was later disputed. Rings with clasped hands may also have been exchanged between friends or as a sign of alliance and loyalty. \n\nThis ring forms part of a collection of 760 rings and engraved gems from the collection of Edmund Waterton (1830-87).   Waterton was one of the foremost ring collectors of the nineteenth century and was the author of several articles on rings, a   book on English devotion to the Virgin Mary and an unfinished catalogue of his collection (the manuscript is now the National Art   Library). Waterton was noted for his extravagance and financial troubles caused him to place his collection in pawn with the   London jeweller Robert Phillips. When he was unable to repay the loan, Phillips offered to sell the collection to the Museum and it   was acquired in 1871. A small group of rings which Waterton had held back were acquired in 1899.","physicalDescription":"Silver-gilt ring, the hoop engraved with an unintelligible inscription","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[{"text":"engraving (incising)","id":"AAT53829"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Engraved silver-gilt","categories":[{"text":"Jewellery","id":"THES48930"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2017JX4971","2017JX4972","2017JX4973"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"014","id":"THES407876"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Ring","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Europe","id":"x28842"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"west"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"15th century","earliest":"1400-01-01","latest":"1500-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"2.4","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","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"an unintelligible inscription","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"the hoop"}],"objectHistory":"ex Waterton Collection","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Silver-gilt 'fede' ring, the hoop engraved with an unintelligible inscription, West Europe, 15th century","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["843-1871"],"accessionNumberNum":"843","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1871,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LV8770"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-11-10","recordCreationDate":"2006-02-16","availableToBook":true}}