{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O374195"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O374195/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O374195","accessionNumber":"80-1872","objectType":"Ring","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This ring was described as a Jewish wedding ring, made in Germany in the late 16th century, when it was acquired by the Museum in 1872.\r\n\r\nThe description of Jewish marriage or betrothal ring is often applied to elaborate rings with Hebrew inscriptions.  Their role is not entirely clear.  Jewish wives wore simple gold wedding rings but these rings seem to have been used symbolically and only during the marriage ceremony.  They are often too large and bulky to have been worn routinely.  \r\n\r\nOne of the main identifying characteristics is the inscription ‘<i>mazal tov</i>’, meaning ‘Good fortune’ in Hebrew.  This phrase is traditional in Ashkenazi weddings, but the enamel and filigree on this example make it more likely that the ring was made in Eastern Europe, particularly Transylvania, rather than Germany.  The inscription is usually engraved on the inside of the shank, but in this example it is also on the outside, in the space where a filigree boss once stood.  Several other Jewish marriage rings show evidence that the words or initials were added after the ring had been made.\r\n","physicalDescription":"Gold band ring decorated with five filigree domes with a space where the sixth would have been.  The domes are separated from each other by pairs of raised quatrefoils enamelled in turquoise.  There is a band of braided wire along each rim.  The ring is inscribed with the letters M and T in Hebrew, representing the words '<i>mazal tov</i>', on the blank space where a sixth dome would have been, and inside the shank.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"gold","id":"AAT11021"}],"techniques":[{"text":"filigree","id":"x35885"},{"text":"enamelling","id":"AAT53773"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Gold band decorated with filigree and turquoise enamel","categories":[{"text":"Jewellery","id":"THES48930"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Judaism","id":"THES48929"},{"text":"Marriage","id":"THES48921"},{"text":"Traditional jewellery (Europe)","id":"THES270343"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"036","id":"THES410228"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Ring","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Transylvania","id":"x37439"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"possibly"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1650-1750","earliest":"1650-01-01","latest":"1750-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"טי מ","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"Good fortune.","transliteration":"The letters 'Mem' and 'Tav', standing for Mazal Tov.","type":"","note":"Engraved twice; on the inside of the shank, and on the outside where a boss is missing."}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":" Gold band ring decorated with filigree domes and turquoise enamel, Transylvania, 1650-1750.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"For a similar example, in the Musèe de Cluny,  see:\r\nKunz, George Frederick. 'Rings for the Finger', J. B. Lippincott company, 1917, p.213"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["80-1872"],"accessionNumberNum":"80","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1872,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-05-21","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":true}}