{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O122378"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O122378/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BH1364/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BH1364/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006BH1364","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006BH1369","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006BH1365","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006BH1368","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006BH1367","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006BH1366","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O122378/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O122378","accessionNumber":"M.32-2005","objectType":"Ring","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This ring is a replica of the ring known as the Darnley Ring (841-1871),which has long been one of the best known rings in the V&A's  collection. It is said to have been given by Mary, Queen of Scots to Henry, Lord Darnley  in 1565 to celebrate their betrothal and marriage.\r\n\r\nSupposedly found amongst the ruins of Fotheringhay Castle in Northamptonshire in  1820, the ring was exhibited to the Archaeological Institute, Salisbury in 1849, and had been  acquired by Edmund Waterton by 1857, whose collection was purchased by the  Museum in 1871. Scholarship had not questioned the authenticity of the ring's  associations until the publication of the Jewellery Gallery Summary Catalogue (V&A,  1982) in which Shirley Bury suggests that the inscription may not be original.  Nonetheless, the ring's compelling story inspired the production of many replicas for sale  to the devoted admirers of Mary, Queen of Scots. Mary had long been celebrated as a tragic heroine in Scotland, but interest became more widespread in the early 19th century with the publication of Sir Walter Scott's 'Waverley' novels and the state visit by George IV in 1822. \r\n\r\nThis silver ring is one of a number of known replicas. Considerable differences between the replica and the original Darnley Ring suggest that the replicas were formed after an engraving of the ring  published in the Archaeological Journal in 1857 (vol. XIV, 1857, pp.297-300), rather  than the ring itself. ","physicalDescription":"Silver ring with inscriptions in imitation of the 'Darnley Ring' (see 841-1871). Its circular bezel is engraved with the letters H and M and on the inside the letters 'HENRI L DARNLEY 1565' surround a crowned shield featuring a lion rampant.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silver","id":"AAT11029"}],"techniques":[{"text":"engraved","id":"AAT53829"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Silver, engraved","categories":[{"text":"Jewellery","id":"THES48930"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Scotland","id":"THES262877"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006BH1364","2006BH1369","2006BH1365","2006BH1368","2006BH1367","2006BH1366"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES407864"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Ring","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"probably"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"after 1857","earliest":"1858-01-01","latest":null},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"841-1871","id":"O62552"},"association":"Original"}],"creditLine":"Given by Mr and Mrs B. Ellis","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"1.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"1.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'HM'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Letters engraved on the bezel, referring to Henry, Lord Darnley and Mary, Queen of Scots"},{"content":"'HENRI. L. DARNLEY. 1565'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Inside inscription"}],"objectHistory":"Found by the donors while renovating their home in Soutergate in 1987.","historicalContext":"This is a reproduction of a cast gold ring said to have been found near Fotheringay Castle before 1849 and now in the V&A (841-1871). The inscription and coat-of-arms refer to Mary Queen of Scots and her second husband Lord Henry Stuart Darnley (1541-67) whom she married on July 29, 1565.","briefDescription":"Silver ring (replica of the Darnley Ring); England, late 19th or early 20th century.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[{"text":"Fotheringhay Castle","id":"THES252917"}],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[{"text":"Mary Queen of Scots","id":"A1708"}],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"shields (armor)","id":"AAT36869"},{"text":"crown","id":"AAT46020"},{"text":"lions","id":"x30150"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["M.32-2005"],"accessionNumberNum":"32","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":2005,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2022NH0994"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-05-21","recordCreationDate":"2006-03-28","availableToBook":true}}