{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O121877"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O121877/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2007BL8491/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2007BL8491/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2007BL8491","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2007BL8490","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KA7052","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KA7053","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O121877/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O121877","accessionNumber":"652-1871","objectType":"Ring","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Most of the gems used in medieval jewellery were extremely valuable, and were highly prized for their size and colour as well as their talismanic properties. Emeralds came from India, probably via the trading routes from Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul). Emeralds were thought to be a cure for epilepsy, helpful for eye troubles, and for increasing wealth.\n\nThis ring forms part of a collection of over 700 rings and engraved gems from the collection of Edmund Waterton (1830-81). 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":"Gold ring, the projecting bezel set with a polished cabochon emerald. The high collet of lozenge form, the shoulders with lozenges enclosing open work quatrefoils, the hoop decorated with ropework and bordered with wirework.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"gold","id":"AAT11021"},{"text":"emerald","id":"AAT11074"}],"techniques":[{"text":"engraving (incising)","id":"AAT53829"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Gold, engraved; emerald","categories":[{"text":"Jewellery","id":"THES48930"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Europeana Fashion Project","id":"THES265804"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2007BL8491","2007BL8490","2017KA7052","2017KA7053"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"91","id":"THES49703"},"free":"","case":"5","shelf":"C","box":"5"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Ring","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Europe","id":"x28842"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1400-1500","earliest":"1395-01-01","latest":"1500-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"2.8","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":"0.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Ex Waterton Collection. The floral elements on the shoulders are most closely paralled by a ring found in Manley, Cheshire in 2002 (Treasure ref. LVPL2060) and subsequently sold at Christies in 2006. ","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Gold ring, the projecting bezel set with a cabochon emerald, with open quatrefoils and rope decoration on the hoop, Europe, ca. 1400-1500.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Campbell, Marian, <u>Medieval Jewellery in Europe 1100-1500</u>, London, V&A Publishing, 2009, p. 29, fig. 24"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Oman, Charles, <u>Catalogue of rings in the Victoria and Albert Museum</u>, London, 1930, reprinted Ipswich, 1993, cat. 263, p68"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["652-1871"],"accessionNumberNum":"652","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1871,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2017KD7025","2019LP6846","2019LT1108","2019LW0481"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-08","recordCreationDate":"2006-03-14","availableToBook":false}}