{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O121210"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O121210/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2015HV9341/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2015HV9341/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2015HV9341","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HN3129","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HN3130","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HN3131","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HN3132","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HN3133","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HV9342","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HV9343","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HV9344","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HV9345","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KA6946","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O121210/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O121210","accessionNumber":"710-1871","objectType":"Ring","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Science, magic and religion were closely intertwined in the medieval mind. Jewels inscribed with religious and magical mottoes were believed to protect against calamities, diseases and the workings of evil spirits. The bezel of this ring is decorated with the Sacred Monogram, the letters IHS which stood for the name of Jesus and with a cross. The hoop bears the inscription +HCER + S + DIA  + BIZ + SA + SI +  which was probably an abbreviated magical phrase and on the inside  ABIZ + SAN + HCBERBN  which was part of the Zacharias blessing, believed to protect the wearer against the plague. \n\nAlthough the Church had doubts about the use of magic, theologians such as Thomas Aquinas felt that it was acceptable, if used to pursue scientific aims, and if it did not involve conjuring demons or communing with the dead. Rings therefore often combine religious and magical inscriptions.\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 ring with an applied square bezel engraved with the sacred monogram and a cross. The flat hoop is inscribed in lombardic characters <i>+HCER + S + DIA + BIZ + SA + SI +</i> and on the inside <i>ABIZ + SAN + HCBERBN</i>","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silver","id":"AAT11029"}],"techniques":[{"text":"engraving (incising)","id":"AAT53829"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Engraved silver","categories":[{"text":"Jewellery","id":"THES48930"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2015HV9341","2015HN3129","2015HN3130","2015HN3131","2015HN3132","2015HN3133","2015HV9342","2015HV9343","2015HV9344","2015HV9345","2017KA6946"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"014","id":"THES407876"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Ring","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Italy","id":"x28927"},"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":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"2.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"2.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"0.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"inscribed <i>+HCER + S + DIA + BIZ + SA + SI +</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":"The hoop on the outside; in lombardic characters"},{"content":"inscribed <i>ABIZ + SAN + HCBERBN</i>","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"part of the Zacharias blessing","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"The hoop on the inside; in lombardic characters"}],"objectHistory":"This ring was in the collection of Edmund Waterton before being acquired by the museum. Waterton described it in his manuscript catalogue of his collection as follows: \n\r\n\"Silver hoop ring with a square bezel affixed on which is engraved IHS surmounted by a cross. Around the hoop on the outside +HCER + S + DIA + BIZ + SA  + SI + within ABIZ + SAN + HCBERBN. This second formula appears to be a variation of No. 14. Formulae of a like nature, but with variations are occasionally to be met with. The key to these inscriptions seems to lie in a formula of prayers appointed to be said against the plague. I have traced it back to 1564 and it was printed at Ronciglione in 1631.\r\nThis is the formula <u>Contra Pestem</u> +Z+DIA+BIZ+SAB+Z+HGF+BFRS\"\n\nWaterton then provided a lengthy explanation for each letter used. He continued:\n\n\"This same formula of the letters is given by John Christian in his <u>Tractatus de Fascinatione</u> (November 1675, p.302) and in a little pamphlet printed at Rome in 1854, it is stated that these verses were brought from a monastery at Antioch by a Greek archbishop in 1546 and that they had been drawn up by Saint Zacharias, Archbishop of Jerusalem in the reign of the Emperor Heraclius. It is further mentioned that these letters were often worn on bracelets and on rings.\"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Silver ring with an applied square bezel engraved with the sacred monogram and a cross. The flat hoop is inscribed in lombardic characters <i>+HCER + S + DIA + BIZ + SA + SI +</i> and on the inside <i>ABIZ + SAN + HCBERBN</i>, Italy, 15th century","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Bury, Shirley, <u>Jewellery Gallery Summary Catalogue </u> (Victoria and Albert Museum, 1982), 33/B/20"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Oman, Charles, <u>Catalogue of rings in the Victoria and Albert Museum</u>, London, 1930, reprinted Ipswich, 1993, p.115, cat. 763"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Waterton, Edmund <u>Dactyliotheca Watertoniana: a descriptive catalogue of the finger-rings in the collection of Mrs Waterton,</u> (manuscript, 1866,  now in National Art Library), pp.321-4"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"monograms","id":"AAT10038"},{"text":"Cross","id":"x31528"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["710-1871"],"accessionNumberNum":"710","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1871,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2016JE6448","2019LW5566"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-05-21","recordCreationDate":"2006-02-16","availableToBook":false}}