Medieval Amuletic Silver Ring With The Names Of The Magi. English, 13th Century.

A Medieval amuletic silver ring engraved with the names of the Magi.

English, 13th century.

Ring size V UK / 10.5 US / 64 EU.

Weighs 2.8 grams.

The ring is set with a faux natural octahedral diamond, made from a separate piece of silver set in a rub-over setting, the same way as that of a gemstone.

The outside of the band is deeply engraved with the names of the three biblical Kings; ‘Melchior, Balthasar and Caspar’.

The engraved names of the three kings was believed to protect against disease, specifically epilepsy, which was known as the ‘falling sickness’, making this a highly potent amuletic ring.

A silver gilt ring also decorated with a faux natural diamond can be found in the collection of the Victoria and Albert museum:

https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O126784/ring-unknown/

Many magical rings have been found in Britain, other examples are in the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert museums collections:

https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O121724/ring-unknown/

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_AF-1005

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_AF-895

https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O121948/ring-unknown/

https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O121953/ring-unknown/

Numerous jewels with the names of the Magi can be found in the British Museum and the V&A:

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_AF-1019

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_AF-1017

https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O121198/ring-unknown/

https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O15211/ring-brooch-unknown/

Another example in the collection of the National Museums Scotland:

https://www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-collections/collection-search-results/finger-ring/29108