Jewelry

“Iconographic” rings, named for the religious images engraved on them, are increasingly rare, and this example is beautifully carved.

Plain D-shaped hoop with a flat oval bezel incised with the figure of Saint Christopher wading through the water and carrying the Christ Child on his back, the background chiselled to receive enamel of which traces remain.

In the Middle Ages rings with devotional scenes and favorite saints were worn not only as a sign of faith, they also often had a more personal significance for the wearer. Saints were venerated as patrons of a shared name, or a profession, for example a patron saint which represented a particular guild. More often though the belief was that saints could accompany the wearer through life, bring prosperity, heal from disease, or protect the wearer from the dangers of life. In the late fourteenth century, the image of Saint Christopher protected against sudden death, but he was also known as the patron saint of travelers. The scene on the ring portrays the legend of the saint who carried the Christ Child over his shoulder across a river. Such rings made of gold, silver, or silver-gilt were popular in England and Scotland and described as “iconographic” by Victorian ring collectors. 

Although we have identified over 250 extant iconographic rings, they are now rare on the market. See Hindman (“Medieval Iconographic Rings: Constructing a Cultural Context,” Festschrift Herbert L. Kessler, Codex Aquilarensis 37 (2021), pp. 485-502.

Provenance:

Found near Marlborough, Wiltshire, in England by a metal detectorist, registered in the Portable Antiquities Scheme Ref. HAMP-88F882, and disclaimed as Treasure Ref. 2019T642.

Literature:

St. Christopher was extremely popular and can be found on many iconographic rings.  For the ring type, cf. examples in the British Museum, London (Dalton 1912, pp. 111-119); Victoria and Albert Museum, London (Bury 1984, p. 184ff.; Church 2011, pp. 20-22). Cf. also Scarisbrick 2007, pp. 136-138.

R-1014