Medieval Silver Wedding Ring "Fede" Type

Code: 10174

This is a wonderful medieval silver betrothal/wedding ring, dating to the 14th - 15th century A.D. 

Medieval lovers gave each other rings, and rings were used to mark betrothals and weddings, but among surviving rings, it is impossible today to distinguish these different uses. Such rings are generally called 'fede' (faith) rings. Rings showing clasped hands first appeared in Roman times when they represented a legal contract. Since the clasping of hands was part of the medieval betrothal ceremony, it is not surprising to find rings that can be attributed to the 'wedding ring' genre. Either way, it would be impossible to distinguish this ring as commemorative of love, betrothal or marriage - what we can say is that this ring would have been given to a man to wear. During this period a strict code of sumptuary laws forbade the wearing of silver and gold jewelry to lower classes in society, thus we can be sure this gentleman would have been a knight or nobleman.

OBJECT: Wedding Ring

CULTURE: Medieval

DATE: c. 1350 - 1450 A.D.

MATERIAL: Silver

RING SIZE:   11    (US)      V 1/2 (UK)

SIZE: 24mm x 22mm x 7mm 

WEIGHT: 2.8 grams

PROVENANCE: Ex. private collection London, originally found in Kent.