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Signet Ring

A work made of gold.
CC0 Public Domain Designation

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  • A work made of gold.

Date:

c. 1475–c. 1500

Artist:

Netherlandish
Probably Bruges

About this artwork

This large gold ring is engraved with an aristocratic heraldic emblem, a rampant (rearing) lion offset with a circle of beading. When pressed into sealing wax poured on documents or letters, the negative (intaglio) image of the lion produced a positive impression, meant to signify the office or identity of the author. Signet rings like this were used by civic officials or bourgeoning merchants as an expression of political allegiance. They were also worn by members of the aristocratic family whose emblem it represents. Without knowing the heraldic colors, it is difficult to accurately assign the emblem to a specific family. If the ring was indeed discovered in the canal in Bruges, it might signify the lion of the counts and region of Flanders.

Status

On View, Gallery 238

Department

Applied Arts of Europe

Title

Signet Ring

Place

Bruges (Object Probably made in)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

Made 1475–1500

Medium

Gold

Dimensions

Diam.: 2 cm (3/4 in.)

Credit Line

Chester D. Tripp Estate Fund

Reference Number

2016.12

IIIF Manifest  The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

Learn more.

https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/229963/manifest.json

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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