Tag: 17th Century

Bones and Rings

Connecting the body to death and the physical elements of the body that are relevant to display within the context of death are very specific to the Protestant and Catholic schism. Since Martin Luther proposed a discussion in his Ninety-Five Thesis, or the “Disputation of Martin Luther on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences” on… Continue reading Bones and Rings

Clasp Hands with an Early Gimmel Ring

A gold fede and gimmel ring consisting of two interlocking and twisted hoops with clasped hands forming the bezel. Within the lower hand is a heart and, when the two hoops are joined, the top hand clasps this heart. The hands extend to the shoulders, becoming cuffs and these are decorated and partly enamelled. On the inside of each hoop is an inscription that remains concealed when the two hoops are shut.

Clasping hands is a universal symbol of a union and trust. Personal connections are forged through the range of time spent together and physical connection, which are both symbols that are represented in mourning and sentimental jewels. Time, or ‘tempus fugit’, is often referenced as the hourglass, showing how time can fly. Physical proximity is… Continue reading Clasp Hands with an Early Gimmel Ring

Mourning Jewels: How They Were Worn, Part 1

Full-length portrait of Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-87), standing in mourning costume, with the Royal Arms of Scotland behind; she holds a crucifix in her right hand, a prayer-book in her left, and wears a cross and rosary; behind her are her two ladies; left a scene of her execution

A question as simple as ‘how was a jewel worn?’ leads to the most complex of answers. The narrative of mourning and sentimental jewellery in the modern age is intrinsically interwoven with the growth of industry and newfound access to wealth , along with the emergence of newly-mobile social class. Fashion is rarely, if ever, adopted arbitrarily. The purpose… Continue reading Mourning Jewels: How They Were Worn, Part 1