Renaissance Rings

	Renaissance Rings (16th Century)
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See also Poesy rings, memento mori rings, and other inscribed rings from the Middle Ages and Renaissance. A ring from Seefeld, c. 1470-1586 A silver ring in braided wire, c. 1480-1520 Diamond ring, 16th century Engraved gold posy ring (with the inscription "I AM YOURS KS"), England, 16th century Engraved gold wedding ring with inscriptions, England, 16th century Gold ring with an emerald, Spain, 16th century Gold ring with an emerald, Spain, 16th century A gold ring with a diamond and enamel, Hungary, 16th century Gold ring with stones in the shape of a fleur-de-lys, 16th century Gold ring with a ruby, France, 16th century Gold ring with a ruby, France, 16th century Gold ring with an emerald, Italy, 16th century Enamelled gold ring with a sapphire, Italy, 16th century Engraved & enamelled gold ring with a beryl, Italy, 16th century Gold ring with abstract punched decoration (and inside), Sweden, 16th century Illustrations (this and this; from a manuscript at the Muse du Petit-Palais) from the Garden of Health by Johann Wonnecke von Kaub, c. 1501; the text describes the medicinal properties of the stones in the rings. For more on this subject, see these links on the history of lapidaries. The Hermitage Ring, gold with enamel and a 9-carat faceted diamond, early 16th century Bronze decade ring, England, c. 1500-1520 Portrait of a jeweler, possibly Giovanni Pietro Crivelli by Lorenzo Lotto, c. 1509-1512 Portrait of a canon by Quentin Massys, 1510s Design for an ornament or signet ring with the arms of Lazarus Spengler by Albrecht D¨rer, 1516 Portrait of Peter Gillis by Quentin Massys, 1517 Portrait of Erasmus of Rotterdam by Quentin Massys, 1517 Portrait of a grotesque old woman by Quentin Massys, 1525-1530 Portrait of Sir Henry Wyatt by Hans Holbein the Younger, c. 1525-1540 Portrait of a man with a lute by Hans Holbein the Younger, c. 1526-1527 Portrait of Sir Thomas More by Hans Holbein, 1527 Portrait of Sir Thomas Godsalve and his son John by Hans Holbein, 1528 Portrait of an unknown lady by Hans Baldung Grien, 1530 Portrait of an unknown lady by Lucas Cranach the Elder, c. 1530 (note rings worn under gloves, visible through slashes) Portrait of an unknown man by Lorenzo Lotto, c. 1530 Portrait of Elenora, Queen of France by Joos van Cleve, c. 1530 Portrait of a lady by Hans Baldung Grien, c. 1530 Portrait of Wilhelm Merz by Christoph Amberger, c. 1530-1535 Portrait of a man, c. 1530-1540 Portrait of a member of the Wedigh family by Hans Holbein the Younger, 1532 Portrait of a member of the Wedigh family by Hans Holbein the Younger, 1532 Portrait of an unknown lady by Agnolo Bronzino, c. 1532-1533 Portrait of Robert Cheseman by Hans Holbein the Younger, 1533 Portrait of Thomas Cromwell by Hans Holbein, 1533 Portrait of Derich Born by Hans Holbein, 1533 Portrait of an unknown man by Hans Holbein, c. 1533-1536 Portrait of Christina Eulenau by Lucas Cranach the Elder, 1534 Portrait of Isabel of Portugal by Titian, c. 1535 Miniature portrait of William Roper and a miniature portrait of his wife, Margaret More, by Hans Holbein the Younger, c. 1535-1536 Portrait of an unknown womanby Hans Holbein, c. 1536-1540 Portrait of Johannes Bugenhagen by Hans Holbein the Younger, 1538 Portrait of Christina of Denmark by Hans Holbein, 1538; see detail) Portrait of Anne of Cleves by Hans Holbein the Younger, c. 1539 Portrait of an unknown lady, c. 1540 Portrait of Mary Neville, Lady Dacre by Hans Eworth, c. 1540 Miniature portrait of an unknown lady by Hans Holbein, c. 1540 Portrait of Lucrezia Panciatichi by Agnolo Bronzino, c. 1540 Portrait of an unknown man by Agnolo Bronzino, c. 1540 Portrait of Mrs. Pemberton by Hans Holbein, c. 1540 Portrait of Melchior von Brauweiler by Jan-Stephan von Calcar, 1540 (see detail) Portrait of an unknown man by Hans Holbein, 1541 Portrait of Roelof de Vos von Steenwijk by Hans Holbein the Younger, 1541 Portrait of a young woman by Agnolo Bronzino, c. 1541-1545 Portrait of Thomas Gresham, 1544 Portrait of Laura da Pola by Lorenzo Lotto, 1544 Portrait of Archbishop Cranmer by Gerlach Flicke, c. 1545-1546 The Jeweler by Antonis Mor, c. 1549 Portrait of an unknown lady by Agnolo Bronzino, c. 1550 Gold, garnet, and enamel ring, c. 1550 Enamelled gold ring set with a pink sapphire, western Europe, mid-16th century Chased and enamelled gold ring with a death's head and memento mori inscriptions, England, c. 1550-1560 Opal ring, c. 1550-1575 Gold ring with enamelled lady and unicorn, c. 1550-1600 Gold ring with red stone, northern Germany, c. 1551-1600 Portrait of Catherine of Austria, Queen of Portugal by Antonio Mor, c. 1552 Gold ring with a ruby, Spain, third quarter of the 16th century Miniature portrait of Catherine de Medici by Franois Clouet, c. 1555 Portrait of Laura Battiferi by Agnolo Bronzino, c. 1555-1560 Portrait of an unknown lady, c. 1560 Portrait of a woman called La Bella Nani by Paolo Caliari (Veronese), 1560s Portrait of Margaret Audley, Duchess of Norfolk by Hans Eworth, 1562 Portrait of Angelica Agliardi de Nicolinis by Giovanni Battista Moroni, c. 1565 Portrait of an unknown man by Hans Eworth, 1567 Portrait of Sir Henry Lee by Antonis Mor van Dashorst, 1568 Portrait (probably Lady Helena Snakeborg, Marchioness of Northampton), 1569 Portrait of a tailor by Giovanni Moroni, 1570 Portrait of Frances Sidney, Countess of Sussex, c. 1570-75 Portrait of Anna of Austria by Alonso Sánchez Coello, c. 1571 Portrait of Elizabeth of Austria by Franois Clouet, c. 1571 Engraved & enamelled gold ring with an emerald, Spain, third quarter of the 16th century Locket ring with minature portraits of Queen Elizabeth and her mother Anne Boleyn, c. 1575 Portrait of a young woman in the Portrait-Book of Hieronymus Beck von Leopoldsdorf, c. 1575-1585 Portrait of a gentleman, 1576 Gold ring (with rock crystal?), probably Spain, last quarter of the 16th century Gold ring with rock crystal, Spain, ast quarter of the 16th century Portrait of a couple, last quarter of the 16th century Gold engagement ring, or fede ring, made in southern Germany in the last quarter of the 16th century (see caption); with interlocking pieces detached Portrait of a gentlewoman by Scipione Pulzone, 1580 Portrait of a noblewoman by Lavinia Fontana, 1580 Portrait of Sir John Hawkins, 1581; notice signet ring hanging around his neck Miniature portrait of a woman by Alonso Sánchez Coello, c. 1585 Portrait of Lettice Knollys, Countess of Leicester attributed to George Gower, c. 1585 Miniature portrait of a young girl holding a carnation by Isaac Oliver, 1590 A gold gimmel ring with enamel decorations, Hungary, c. 1590-1610 Gold ring with rock crystal and green glass, Spain, late 16th century Engraved & enamelled gold ring with a ruby, Italy, late 16th century Gold ring with a ruby, Germany, end of the 16th century William Cecil, Lord Burghly, c. 1595 Portrait of a lady by Gortzius Geldorp, 1597 Portrait of the Countess Bentivoglio by Ludovico Caracci, c. 1597-1599 Silver-gilt inscribed ring with jasper inlay made in the workshop of Ottavio Miseroni (Milan) in the late 16th or early 17th century Four wedding-rings, made in Italy and worn by Jews in Amsterdam in the late 16th or early 17th centuries: here, here, here, and here; another Jewish wedding ring made in 16th century Italy Gold ring with emeralds in a cross-shape, Spain, late 16th or early 17th century Gold ring with rubies, Germany, late 16th or early 17th century (photo is unclear; is that a death's head at center?) Gold signet ring, late 16th or early 17th centuries; engraved with the initials "WW," an interlaced knot, and a beaded border Enamelled gold gimmel wedding ring, made of two intertwined & inscribed rings which, when brought together, show two hands clasped together, possibly Germany, c. 1600 Enamelled gold ring set with an onyx cameo of Medusa, Germany, c. 1600 Enamelled gold wedding ring (gimmel ring?) set with a diamond, made of three interconnecting hoops which, when brought together, show hands clasped around a heart, Germany, c. 1600-1650 Miniature portrait of a woman by Nicholas Hilliard, 1602 Portrait of Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton by John de Critz, 1603 Silver-gilt signet ring with the heraldry of the Starck and Tucher families, Nuremburg, 1605 Silver-gilt posy ring (inscribed "Love me only" on the inside) found in Llantilio Crossenny and dated to the 17th century Gold fede ring (inscribed "Let virtue be thy giud" on the inside), c. 1680 Signet ring of Wolf Christoph von Bendeleben, Germany, first half of the 17th century Gold posy ring (inscribed "Rather death then falce of faythe" on the inside) from the Tregwynt hoard, 1640s

Renaissance Rings (16th Century)

Toward an Art History of Medieval Rings: A Private Collection

Renaissance Jewels, Gold Boxes and Objets De Vertu: The Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection

See also Poesy rings, memento mori rings, and other inscribed rings from the Middle Ages and Renaissance.

A ring from Seefeld, c. 1470-1586
A silver ring in braided wire, c. 1480-1520
Diamond ring, 16th century
Engraved gold posy ring (with the inscription "I AM YOURS KS"), England, 16th century
Engraved gold wedding ring with inscriptions, England, 16th century
Gold ring with an emerald, Spain, 16th century
Gold ring with an emerald, Spain, 16th century
A gold ring with a diamond and enamel, Hungary, 16th century
Gold ring with stones in the shape of a fleur-de-lys, 16th century
Gold ring with a ruby, France, 16th century
Gold ring with a ruby, France, 16th century
Gold ring with an emerald, Italy, 16th century
Enamelled gold ring with a sapphire, Italy, 16th century
Engraved & enamelled gold ring with a beryl, Italy, 16th century
Gold ring with abstract punched decoration (and inside), Sweden, 16th century
Illustrations (this and this; from a manuscript at the Muse du Petit-Palais) from the Garden of Health by Johann Wonnecke von Kaub, c. 1501; the text describes the medicinal properties of the stones in the rings. For more on this subject, see these links on the history of lapidaries.
The Hermitage Ring, gold with enamel and a 9-carat faceted diamond, early 16th century
Bronze decade ring, England, c. 1500-1520
Portrait of a jeweler, possibly Giovanni Pietro Crivelli by Lorenzo Lotto, c. 1509-1512
Portrait of a canon by Quentin Massys, 1510s
Design for an ornament or signet ring with the arms of Lazarus Spengler by Albrecht D¨rer, 1516
Portrait of Peter Gillis by Quentin Massys, 1517
Portrait of Erasmus of Rotterdam by Quentin Massys, 1517
Portrait of a grotesque old woman by Quentin Massys, 1525-1530
Portrait of Sir Henry Wyatt by Hans Holbein the Younger, c. 1525-1540
Portrait of a man with a lute by Hans Holbein the Younger, c. 1526-1527
Portrait of Sir Thomas More by Hans Holbein, 1527
Portrait of Sir Thomas Godsalve and his son John by Hans Holbein, 1528
Portrait of an unknown lady by Hans Baldung Grien, 1530
Portrait of an unknown lady by Lucas Cranach the Elder, c. 1530 (note rings worn under gloves, visible through slashes)
Portrait of an unknown man by Lorenzo Lotto, c. 1530
Portrait of Elenora, Queen of France by Joos van Cleve, c. 1530
Portrait of a lady by Hans Baldung Grien, c. 1530
Portrait of Wilhelm Merz by Christoph Amberger, c. 1530-1535
Portrait of a man, c. 1530-1540
Portrait of a member of the Wedigh family by Hans Holbein the Younger, 1532
Portrait of a member of the Wedigh family by Hans Holbein the Younger, 1532
Portrait of an unknown lady by Agnolo Bronzino, c. 1532-1533
Portrait of Robert Cheseman by Hans Holbein the Younger, 1533
Portrait of Thomas Cromwell by Hans Holbein, 1533
Portrait of Derich Born by Hans Holbein, 1533
Portrait of an unknown man by Hans Holbein, c. 1533-1536
Portrait of Christina Eulenau by Lucas Cranach the Elder, 1534
Portrait of Isabel of Portugal by Titian, c. 1535
Miniature portrait of William Roper and a miniature portrait of his wife, Margaret More, by Hans Holbein the Younger, c. 1535-1536
Portrait of an unknown womanby Hans Holbein, c. 1536-1540
Portrait of Johannes Bugenhagen by Hans Holbein the Younger, 1538
Portrait of Christina of Denmark by Hans Holbein, 1538; see detail)
Portrait of Anne of Cleves by Hans Holbein the Younger, c. 1539
Portrait of an unknown lady, c. 1540
Portrait of Mary Neville, Lady Dacre by Hans Eworth, c. 1540
Miniature portrait of an unknown lady by Hans Holbein, c. 1540
Portrait of Lucrezia Panciatichi by Agnolo Bronzino, c. 1540
Portrait of an unknown man by Agnolo Bronzino, c. 1540
Portrait of Mrs. Pemberton by Hans Holbein, c. 1540
Portrait of Melchior von Brauweiler by Jan-Stephan von Calcar, 1540 (see detail)
Portrait of an unknown man by Hans Holbein, 1541
Portrait of Roelof de Vos von Steenwijk by Hans Holbein the Younger, 1541
Portrait of a young woman by Agnolo Bronzino, c. 1541-1545
Portrait of Thomas Gresham, 1544
Portrait of Laura da Pola by Lorenzo Lotto, 1544
Portrait of Archbishop Cranmer by Gerlach Flicke, c. 1545-1546
The Jeweler by Antonis Mor, c. 1549
Portrait of an unknown lady by Agnolo Bronzino, c. 1550
Gold, garnet, and enamel ring, c. 1550
Enamelled gold ring set with a pink sapphire, western Europe, mid-16th century
Chased and enamelled gold ring with a death's head and memento mori inscriptions, England, c. 1550-1560
Opal ring, c. 1550-1575
Gold ring with enamelled lady and unicorn, c. 1550-1600
Gold ring with red stone, northern Germany, c. 1551-1600
Portrait of Catherine of Austria, Queen of Portugal by Antonio Mor, c. 1552
Gold ring with a ruby, Spain, third quarter of the 16th century
Miniature portrait of Catherine de Medici by Franois Clouet, c. 1555
Portrait of Laura Battiferi by Agnolo Bronzino, c. 1555-1560
Portrait of an unknown lady, c. 1560
Portrait of a woman called La Bella Nani by Paolo Caliari (Veronese), 1560s
Portrait of Margaret Audley, Duchess of Norfolk by Hans Eworth, 1562
Portrait of Angelica Agliardi de Nicolinis by Giovanni Battista Moroni, c. 1565
Portrait of an unknown man by Hans Eworth, 1567
Portrait of Sir Henry Lee by Antonis Mor van Dashorst, 1568
Portrait (probably Lady Helena Snakeborg, Marchioness of Northampton), 1569
Portrait of a tailor by Giovanni Moroni, 1570
Portrait of Frances Sidney, Countess of Sussex, c. 1570-75
Portrait of Anna of Austria by Alonso Sánchez Coello, c. 1571
Portrait of Elizabeth of Austria by Franois Clouet, c. 1571
Engraved & enamelled gold ring with an emerald, Spain, third quarter of the 16th century
Locket ring with minature portraits of Queen Elizabeth and her mother Anne Boleyn, c. 1575
Portrait of a young woman in the Portrait-Book of Hieronymus Beck von Leopoldsdorf, c. 1575-1585
Portrait of a gentleman, 1576
Gold ring (with rock crystal?), probably Spain, last quarter of the 16th century
Gold ring with rock crystal, Spain, ast quarter of the 16th century
Portrait of a couple, last quarter of the 16th century
Gold engagement ring, or fede ring, made in southern Germany in the last quarter of the 16th century (see caption); with interlocking pieces detached
Portrait of a gentlewoman by Scipione Pulzone, 1580
Portrait of a noblewoman by Lavinia Fontana, 1580
Portrait of Sir John Hawkins, 1581; notice signet ring hanging around his neck
Miniature portrait of a woman by Alonso Sánchez Coello, c. 1585
Portrait of Lettice Knollys, Countess of Leicester attributed to George Gower, c. 1585
Miniature portrait of a young girl holding a carnation by Isaac Oliver, 1590
A gold gimmel ring with enamel decorations, Hungary, c. 1590-1610
Gold ring with rock crystal and green glass, Spain, late 16th century
Engraved & enamelled gold ring with a ruby, Italy, late 16th century
Gold ring with a ruby, Germany, end of the 16th century
William Cecil, Lord Burghly, c. 1595
Portrait of a lady by Gortzius Geldorp, 1597
Portrait of the Countess Bentivoglio by Ludovico Caracci, c. 1597-1599
Silver-gilt inscribed ring with jasper inlay made in the workshop of Ottavio Miseroni (Milan) in the late 16th or early 17th century
Four wedding-rings, made in Italy and worn by Jews in Amsterdam in the late 16th or early 17th centuries: here, here, here, and here; another Jewish wedding ring made in 16th century Italy
Gold ring with emeralds in a cross-shape, Spain, late 16th or early 17th century
Gold ring with rubies, Germany, late 16th or early 17th century (photo is unclear; is that a death's head at center?)
Gold signet ring, late 16th or early 17th centuries; engraved with the initials "WW," an interlaced knot, and a beaded border
Enamelled gold gimmel wedding ring, made of two intertwined & inscribed rings which, when brought together, show two hands clasped together, possibly Germany, c. 1600
Enamelled gold ring set with an onyx cameo of Medusa, Germany, c. 1600
Enamelled gold wedding ring (gimmel ring?) set with a diamond, made of three interconnecting hoops which, when brought together, show hands clasped around a heart, Germany, c. 1600-1650
Miniature portrait of a woman by Nicholas Hilliard, 1602
Portrait of Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton by John de Critz, 1603
Silver-gilt signet ring with the heraldry of the Starck and Tucher families, Nuremburg, 1605
Silver-gilt posy ring (inscribed "Love me only" on the inside) found in Llantilio Crossenny and dated to the 17th century
Gold fede ring (inscribed "Let virtue be thy giud" on the inside), c. 1680
Signet ring of Wolf Christoph von Bendeleben, Germany, first half of the 17th century
Gold posy ring (inscribed "Rather death then falce of faythe" on the inside) from the Tregwynt hoard, 1640s