The Social Lives of Medieval Rings

The essays in this volume focus on rings as small objects that have touched upon people, places, and events; rings have also featured in scholastic debates and form our modern museum collections. Contributors collectively argue that a closer look at these diminutive artifacts—both precious and mundane—alongside an assessment of their place within the visual, archaeological, and written record, and in museum contexts tells us more nuanced stories about how and why these small and sensory items were crafted and created connections between people and institutions. Their focus on the social aspects of medieval finger rings unites the contributions of nine scholars with backgrounds in art history, history, archaeology, museum studies, and collecting. Together their essays cover material roughly ranging from 1100 to 1500 in Iberia, France, England, Germany, Rus, and Byzantium.

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-iv
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Contents
pp v-vi
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List of Illustrations
pp vii-x
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Preface
pp xi-xii
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Introduction - Exploring the Social Lives of Rings: Motion, Gender, and Preservation
pp 1-32
- By Jitske Jasperse
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Chapter 1 - Haptic Histories: The Social Life of Rings in French Late Medieval Inventories and Testaments
pp 33-56
- By Mariah Proctor-Tiffany
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Chapter 2 - Archaeological Evidence of Later Medieval and Early Modern Finger-Rings in Britain: Rings, Experiences, and Emotions
pp 57-84
- By Eleanor R. Standley
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Chapter 3 - Changing Hands: On the Uses, Meaning, and Circulation of Rings Amongst the Iberian Nobility from the Eleventh to the Thirteenth Century
pp 85-118
- By Inés Calderón Medina
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Chapter 4 - A Sign of Women’s Power: Signet Rings in Medieval Rus
pp 119-134
- By Christian Raffensperger
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Chapter 5 - The Social Use of Rings Among the Muslims of al-Andalus
pp 135-160
- By Ana Labarta
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Chapter 6 - As a Seal or a Sign: Bishops’ Rings and Their Metaphors
pp 161-188
- By Juliette Calvarin
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Chapter 7 - Authenticating the Rings of the “Nine Holy Bishops”: Santo Estevo de Ribas de Sil, from Modern to Medieval Contexts
pp 189-216
- By Therese Martin
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Chapter 8 - “Certainly a Very Fine Object”: Mildred and Robert Woods Bliss, Collectors of Jewellery and Wealth in the Twentieth Century
pp 217-230
- By Elizabeth Mccord
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Epilogue - Inside the Vitrine: Rings in Museums Today
pp 231-248
- By Sandra Hindman
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Index of People
pp 249-252
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Index of Places
pp 253-254
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Index of Themes and Objects
pp 255-258
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The Social Lives of Medieval Rings

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-iv

Contents
pp v-vi

List of Illustrations
pp vii-x

Preface
pp xi-xii

Introduction - Exploring the Social Lives of Rings: Motion, Gender, and Preservation
pp 1-32

Chapter 1 - Haptic Histories: The Social Life of Rings in French Late Medieval Inventories and Testaments
pp 33-56

Chapter 2 - Archaeological Evidence of Later Medieval and Early Modern Finger-Rings in Britain: Rings, Experiences, and Emotions
pp 57-84

Chapter 3 - Changing Hands: On the Uses, Meaning, and Circulation of Rings Amongst the Iberian Nobility from the Eleventh to the Thirteenth Century
pp 85-118

Chapter 4 - A Sign of Women’s Power: Signet Rings in Medieval Rus
pp 119-134

Chapter 5 - The Social Use of Rings Among the Muslims of al-Andalus
pp 135-160

Chapter 6 - As a Seal or a Sign: Bishops’ Rings and Their Metaphors
pp 161-188

Chapter 7 - Authenticating the Rings of the “Nine Holy Bishops”: Santo Estevo de Ribas de Sil, from Modern to Medieval Contexts
pp 189-216

Chapter 8 - “Certainly a Very Fine Object”: Mildred and Robert Woods Bliss, Collectors of Jewellery and Wealth in the Twentieth Century
pp 217-230

Epilogue - Inside the Vitrine: Rings in Museums Today
pp 231-248

Index of People
pp 249-252

Index of Places
pp 253-254

Index of Themes and Objects
pp 255-258

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The Social Lives of Medieval Rings

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