Rings for the Finger

George Frederick Kunz

• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Year: 2012
• Print ISBN: 9780486222264
• eBook ISBN: 9780486144245

There is probably no item that is so common to almost all cultures and ages of man, yet so frequently overlooked, as rings. Nearly everyone wears (or has worn) rings; yet what person today could tell you anything about their origins, original uses, history, or even the customs behind modern engagement, wedding, and graduation rings? Here is a book that will answer these and many more questions about rings and is certain to expand and enhance your appreciation of them.
From the fabled ring of Prometheus — made from a link of his chain and a chunk of the rock to which he was bound — up to today, rings have had numerous functions, associations and meanings. Originally used as signets and seals, they began to be worn as jewelry, used for religious and magical purposes, and given as tokens and mementos for events stretching from birth to death. The notorious poison-bearing rings of the Borgias, the rings worn by the followers of Charles I after his execution, which had the king's portrait secretly hidden beneath a table-cut diamond, and many other famous rings of history are covered in this book along with a host of ring lore; lords and ladies scratching messages to each other on panes of glass with their diamonds, the legend of Solomon's ring, which reappeared in a fish after having been lost for forty years, and Plato's reprimand to Aristotle over his excessive use of rings. The book also covers methods of ring making, from earliest times up to today, the materials and gems used in rings, and rings from many cultures and archaeological excavations around the world. Origins for many customs concerning rings are explained, and numerous examples of verses and inscriptions found on rings are given. Also included are hundreds of photos of rings of all sorts and varieties, and a selection of historical paintings that illustrate rings as they were worn.
Tracing the origins and development of so common an ornament is fascinating and enlightening. The ring wearer will begin to feel himself a part of one of the oldest and richest customs of man. The artist and antique collector will appreciate more fully the craftsmanship involved in making rings as well as the colorful and abundant lore associated with them.

INDEX

A

Aah-hotep, Queen, signet of

Abbots’ rings

Abbott, Dr., Egyptian collection of

Abbesses’ rings

Aberdeen, Earl of

Achametis, on dreams of rings

Add-a-link ring

Adjustable rings

Adler, Cyrus

Ælian

African rings

Agate

Agincourt, rings found on battlefield of

Agla motto on healing rings

Agricola, Johannes, on healing rings

Ahasuerus, signet of

Ahlstan, Bishop of Sherbourne, ring of

Albert, Prince

Albertus Magnus, on virtues of talismans

Alexander the Great, signet of

Alfonso X, Lapidario of

Alfonso XIII, old usage said to have been observed at marriage of

Alliot, Hector

Amber

entire rings of

Ambrose, St.

Amelia, Princess, Memorial ring of

Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten), ring of

American Museum of Natural History

American rings

Amethyst

Andalusite

Anglo-Saxon rings

of Bishop Ahlstan

of Ethelwulf

of Ethelswith

Anhalt, princess of, magic ring of

Annay, Sir William d’, ring given to by Richard Cœur-de-Lion

Anne, St., betrothal ring of

Anne of Denmark

Antiochus IV, Epiphanes, signet of

Antoninus Pius, head of, on signet

Anularius, a ring-maker

Anuli natalitii

Anulus pronubus

Apollonius of Tyana, magic rings of

Aquamarine

Aquinas, St. Thomas

Arabic rings, Mohammed’s seal

with carnelians

mottoes and devices on

Archaeological Institute, London

Archers’ rings

Aristophanes, of rings

Aristotle, blamed by Plato for wearing rings

Arnulphus, Bishop of Metz, ring of

Art nouveau rings

Artemidora, mummy-case of

Artemidorus, rings in dream-book of

Arundel collection

Arundel, Thomas, keeper of jewels of Edward the Confessor’s shrine

Assyrian and Babylonian rings

ancient contract as to emerald set in one

Assyrian jewellers’ firm

Astle, Thomas

Astrolabe ring

Auckland, Lord

Augustine, St.

Augustus

signet of

Aurelian’s seal ring

Austrian rings

Avery, Samuel P.

Avitus, Archbishop of Vienne, letter of, describing ring

Aztecs, treasures of the

silversmiths of the

finger-rings of the

B

Bachaumont, Louis Petit de

Bacon, Francis, on telepathic test with a ring

Bachaumont, Louis Petit de

Bacon, Francis, on telepathic test with a ring

Bacula, little rod for rings

Bagobos of Philippine Islands, superstitions of the

Balas-ruby

Bardel, W.

Barlow, Hon. Peter T.

Barr, Miss Ada M.

Barrow, F. H.

Beatty, W. Gedney

Beauvoisin, Mlle. de, rings owned by

Becket, St. Thomas à, ring taken from shrine of

Beefsteak Club memorial rings

Benedict XIV

Bequests of signets

Berghem Lodowyck van (Louis de Berquen) cuts diamonds for Charles the Bold

Béquet, Albert

Berlin Mineralogical Museum

Berlin Royal Museum

Bernard of Clairvaux, St., signet of

Bernhard IV, Margrave of Baden, portrait of

Berteildis, wife of Dagobert I, signet of

Beryl

Besborough collection

Betrothal rings, see wedding rings

Bible, rings mentioned in the

Bibliothèque Nationale

Bibliothèque du Roi (later Bibliothèque Nationale)

Bingham, Hiram

Inca rings found by, in Peru

Bishop, Heber R., collection

Bishops’ rings, of Allstan, Bishop of Sherborne

of Arnulphus, Bishop of Metz

of Ebba, Bishop of Rheims

of Bishop of Flambard

of Bishop Geoffroy Rufus

of Archbishop Greenfield

of Bishop Hervée

of Hilary, Bishop of Chichester

Innocent III’s definition of

of Archbishop Parker

of Seffrid, Bishop of Chichester

of Archbishop Sewell

of Archbishop Sigfroi

of Bishop John Stanberry

Bishops’ rings, stolen by Piers Gaveston

set with green tourmalines

of Bishop William of St. Barbara

of Bishop Wykeham

of Wytlesey, Archbishop of Canterbury

Blake, W. W.

Blakeslee collection, portraits in, showing ring wearing

Bloodstone

Bohemian garnet wings

Boleyn, Anne, sends “cramp rings,”

Boniface IV, mention of pontifical ring in decree of

Boniface VIII, ring found in tomb of

magic ring of

Benza, Buddhist priest, rings made by

Beog, Theodore de

“Book of Thetel,” magic ring described in

Borde, Andrew, on cramp rings

Borgia, Cesare, motto in poison-ring of

Borgia, Lucrezia, rings at betrothal of

Borgias, poison rings of ...

Table of contents

• DOVER BOOKS ON ANTIQUES AND COLLECTING
• Title Page
• Dedication
• Copyright Page
• FOREWORD
• Table of Contents
• RINGS I - THE ORIGIN, PURPOSES AND METHODS OF RING WEARING
• II - FORMS OF RINGS AND MATERIALS OF WHICH THEY ARE MADE
• III - SIGNET RINGS
• IV - SOME INTERESTING RINGS OF HISTORY
• V - BETROTHAL (ENGAGEMENT) RINGS, WEDDING (NUPTIAL) RINGS, AND LOVE TOKENS
• VI - THE RELIGIOUS USE OF RINGS
• VII - MAGIC AND TALISMANIC RINGS
• VIII - RINGS OF HEALING
• CHAPTER IX - RING MAKING
• INDEX