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Actions	Medieval fede ring Remove from selection Add to selection Object number2012.020 TitleMedieval fede ring DescriptionA medieval silver fede ring. Found at Forgue. This silver fede ring would have been worn as a wedding or betrothal ring. The large hoop and weight indicate that the wearer was male and most likely wore it over gloves. The bezel features the fede design of two clasped hands. The outer band is worn but there possibly eight raised panels which would have each contained the letter of an inscription. Whilst it is too worn to decipher it may have read "II IESUS NA" meaning "Jesus of Nazareth, King of Jews". This most likely would have been nielloed. A similar fede ring with this inscription is in the National Museums Scotland collection. The word "fede" derives from the Italian "mani in fede", translated as "hands in faith". They were commonly worn in northern and southern Europe. The earliest example from Britain is from a 12th-century hoard from Larkhill, Wiltshire. However, it was not until the 15th century onwards that they became increasingly popular. Wedding or betrothal rings would have been placed on the fourth finger of the right or left hand as it was believed that this finger held a nerve that ran directly to the heart. Production periodmediaeval Object namering, fede Materialsilver Dimensions diameter: 2.3 cm

Object number2012.020

TitleMedieval fede ring

DescriptionA medieval silver fede ring. Found at Forgue. This silver fede ring would have been worn as a wedding or betrothal ring. The large hoop and weight indicate that the wearer was male and most likely wore it over gloves. The bezel features the fede design of two clasped hands. The outer band is worn but there possibly eight raised panels which would have each contained the letter of an inscription. Whilst it is too worn to decipher it may have read "II IESUS NA" meaning "Jesus of Nazareth, King of Jews". This most likely would have been nielloed. A similar fede ring with this inscription is in the National Museums Scotland collection. The word "fede" derives from the Italian "mani in fede", translated as "hands in faith". They were commonly worn in northern and southern Europe. The earliest example from Britain is from a 12th-century hoard from Larkhill, Wiltshire. However, it was not until the 15th century onwards that they became increasingly popular. Wedding or betrothal rings would have been placed on the fourth finger of the right or left hand as it was believed that this finger held a nerve that ran directly to the heart.

Production periodmediaeval

Object namering, fede

Materialsilver

Dimensions

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