{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O121930"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O121930/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BT1815/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BT1815/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2008BT1815","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2008BT1830","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2008BT1829","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2008BT1828","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KA7068","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O121930/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O121930","accessionNumber":"642-1871","objectType":"Ring","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This gold ring is set with a sapphire, a popular choice of stone in the Middle Ages, worn by the nobility or royalty, the gem being by far the most valuable part of the ring. Gem rings were considered to have amuletic and protective power. Sapphires were believed by some writers to promote chastity,peace and reconciliation and to cure snake bites, also to have cooling powers to cure headaches and heal ulcers.","physicalDescription":"Gold ring, the cusped hexagonal bezel set with a sapphire. The shoulders of the bifaceted hoop decorated with chased dragon-heads, the base with a stylized cross motif.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"gold","id":"AAT11021"},{"text":"sapphire","id":"AAT11083"}],"techniques":[{"text":"engraving (incising)","id":"AAT53829"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Engraved gold, sapphire","categories":[{"text":"Jewellery","id":"THES48930"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Europeana Fashion Project","id":"THES265804"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2008BT1815","2008BT1830","2008BT1829","2008BT1828","2017KA7068"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"10A (VA)","id":"THES49098"},"free":"","case":"4","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Ring","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"France","id":"x28849"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"possibly"},{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"possibly"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1300-1400","earliest":"1300-01-01","latest":"1400-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"1.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"outside including stone","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"2.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"2.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Measured for the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"From the Edmund Waterton collection. Said to be from Amiens.\n\nHistorical significance: This gold ring is set with a sapphire, a popular choice of stone in the Middle Ages, worn by the nobility or royalty, the gem being by far the most valuable part of the ring. Gem rings were considered to have amuletic and protective power. Sapphires were believed by some writers to promote chastity,peace and reconciliation and to cure snake bites, also to have cooling powers to cure headaches and heal ulcers.","historicalContext":"Rings set with gems were popular with all those who could afford them in the Middle Ages, and the most common stones used were sapphire, ruby, garnet, amethyst and rock crystal. Each stone was considered to have a different <i>virtu</i> or magical power, and gem-set rings were thought to have protective and amuletic powers.","briefDescription":"Gold ring, the hexagonal bezel set with a sapphire, the shoulders decorated with chased dragon-heads, possibly France, 1300-1400.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Bury, Shirley, <u>Rings</u>, London, HMSO, 1984, pl. 25E"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Ward, A., et al., <u>The Ring: From Antiquity to the Twentieth Century</u>, London, Thames and Hudson, 1981"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Taylor, G. and Scarisbrick, D., <u>Finger Rings: From Ancient Egypt to the Present Day</u>, London, Lund Humphries, 1978"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Scarisbrick, Diana, <u>Rings: Symbols of Wealth and Power</u>, London, Thames and Hudson, 1993"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Oman, Charles, <u>British Rings 800-1914</u>, London, B.T. Batsford Ltd, 1974"}],"production":"said to be from Amiens","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"dragons","id":"x30096"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["642-1871"],"accessionNumberNum":"642","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1871,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2017KD6334","2019LM5542","2019LT7233"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-08","recordCreationDate":"2006-03-14","availableToBook":false}}