| Show finger rings for every variety of purpose popular through the ages rings have been made for nil all purposes as love tokens as weapons as inoculators of poison as emblems of friendship and of authority and as ornaments according to an article in a jewelers trade magazine moreover they have been made of all kinds of metals from iron to platinum in roman times says the article the wearing of rings was so general and so important as to cause the modern students of custom to study the progressive changes in the regulations governing such wearing and of the metal of which they should be made the iron ring played an important part among the early romans as a mark of individual honor later the gold ring was used by the highest classes by the end of the third century A D every tree free born roman could wear a gold ring on days of national mourning the gold rings were laid aside as a mark of sorrow and respect and iron rings were substituted from rome fashions in rings spread throughout europe the article says whereas various peoples had worn rings the roman influence gave significance to many kinds of rings early in english history we ond find ring making had an important part in art craft among the famous known rings are some that belonged to En glands early kings especially that of Ethel wulf king of wessex aed aad father of alfred the great naturally rings continued to be made in england after the conquest though the art of the ring maker showed slow development during the middle ages the ring became more and more closely connected with the lives and ceremonies of individuals and of nations as well indeed says one authority so great had become the vogue for finger rings nod and so brilliantly did the goldsmiths conceive new modes and fashions that in under edward in ill it became necessary to pass a law restricting the wearing of gold jewelry part particularly leu to persons owning the equivalent of 1000 worth of property we know that by that time rings were used tor for many purposes for weddings betrothals as love tok tokens e n S a and n d seals and for wear as regal and ecclesiastical insignia from the dawn of the renaissance and even before the art of the ring maker in europe gave opportunity for the work of the finest craftsmen in metals platinum was not used by the an dents because this precious pre cloua metal had not been identified until less than two hundred years ago since the turn of the present century however the use of this metal for rings and ff other ornamental purposes has become widespread |
