Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
0.3
Journals
Arts
Special Issues
Medieval and Early Modern Finger Rings from Christian and Jewish...
share announcement

Medieval and Early Modern Finger Rings from Christian and Jewish Contexts

A special issue of Arts (ISSN 2076-0752).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2025 | Viewed by 11233

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Maria Stürzebecher

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Dezernat Kultur und Stadtentwicklung, 99084 Erfurt, Germany
Interests: Jewish material culture; Jewish medieval history; medieval jewellery

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Finger rings are one of the most important types of jewelry, and they have been present in various cultures since the Stone Age. In the Middle Ages, they were made from simple materials such as wood or bone, but also from glass, ivory, or metal. In the case of metal rings, the spectrum ranges from iron or bronze and brass to silver and gold. As often beautiful and precious pieces of jewelry, rings mostly served the self-presentation of the wearer. In addition, however, they could have certain functions: Signet rings functioned to authenticate documents, rings with special symbolism distinguished holders of office or dignity, while other rings played an important role in special ceremonies, such as marriage. Since antiquity, rings have been given and worn as a sign of love and loyalty, and since the late Middle Ages, they have also been used as memorial and mourning rings in memory of the deceased. Amulet rings, meanwhile, were intended to protect or heal the wearer through special inscriptions or materials used. This Special Issue focuses on the wide range of different medieval ring types with different symbolism, function, and religious backgrounds.

The special issue is a project of the scientific network "Ornamentum" (board: Dr. Antje Bosselmann-Ruickbie, Dr. Romina Ebenhöch, Dr. Vera Henkelmann, Dr. Maria Stürzebecher), which deals with jewellery in the Middle Ages and early modern period. More here: https://www.arthistoricum.net/netzwerke/ornamentum

Dr. Maria Stürzebecher
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Arts is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

12 pages, 3312 KiB  
Article
“Vergis Mein Nit”—Connectedness and Commemoration through Rings in the 16th Century
by Romina Ebenhöch
Arts 2023, 12(5), 182; https://doi.org/10.3390/arts12050182 - 24 Aug 2023
Viewed by 1862
Abstract
By the end of the 16th century, finger rings in reverse glass painting technique became increasingly popular in Europe. Often, they are used in the context of signet rings with the monogram together with the coat of arms of its beholder depicted on [...] Read more.
By the end of the 16th century, finger rings in reverse glass painting technique became increasingly popular in Europe. Often, they are used in the context of signet rings with the monogram together with the coat of arms of its beholder depicted on the glass bezel. The following paper concentrates on nine finger rings of this group. Instead of an actual coat of arms though, these finger rings carry the device V(G)MN or FGMN (for-get-me-not) accompanied by a depiction of little blue forget-me-not flowers as the coat of arms. By collecting and describing the so far existing material, the paper aims to contextualize the use and function of the finger rings with the symbol of the forget-me-not flower in the fields of love, friendship and faith. Furthermore, it links the symbol of the for-get-me-not on finger rings and the imperative power of the written letters V(G)MN or FGMN to its tradition in German literature and texts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medieval and Early Modern Finger Rings from Christian and Jewish Contexts)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 3714 KiB  
Article
Jewish Wedding Rings with Miniature Architecture from Medieval Europe
by Maria Stürzebecher
Arts 2022, 11(6), 131; https://doi.org/10.3390/arts11060131 - 19 Dec 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 5358 | Correction
Abstract
Among the various types of medieval rings, Jewish wedding rings with miniature architecture have a special significance due to their special form, their importance in the Jewish wedding ceremony and their long tradition that extends from the Middle Ages into present day. This [...] Read more.
Among the various types of medieval rings, Jewish wedding rings with miniature architecture have a special significance due to their special form, their importance in the Jewish wedding ceremony and their long tradition that extends from the Middle Ages into present day. This paper will examine their function in the wedding ceremony and their role as part of marriage as a legal transaction and the symbolism of their particular design. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medieval and Early Modern Finger Rings from Christian and Jewish Contexts)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 4944 KiB  
Article
Rings with Heraldic Motives from the Wiener Neustadt Treasure: Imitations of Medieval Signet Rings?
by Nikolaus Hofer
Arts 2022, 11(6), 117; https://doi.org/10.3390/arts11060117 - 14 Nov 2022
Viewed by 2319
Abstract
In 2007, a late medieval hoard was found in Wiener Neustadt (Lower Austria), which is extraordinary in many respects: the circumstances of its discovery were curious, its composition extremely inhomogeneous in terms of date and quality, and last but not least, the reconstructable [...] Read more.
In 2007, a late medieval hoard was found in Wiener Neustadt (Lower Austria), which is extraordinary in many respects: the circumstances of its discovery were curious, its composition extremely inhomogeneous in terms of date and quality, and last but not least, the reconstructable circumstances of its concealment seem to have sprung almost from a Hollywood screenplay. It is due to a memorable coincidence that this treasure could be processed quickly within the framework of a scientific research project. The results were already presented in 2014 in a comprehensive monograph. One aspect among the numerous oddities of this hoard is the high number of finger rings it contains, which in turn form a very inhomogeneous category of finds. A group of rings with heraldic motifs on the ring plate is particularly striking and are the focus of this article. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medieval and Early Modern Finger Rings from Christian and Jewish Contexts)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3

Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Title: olden Rings from the Medieval Jewish Cemetery in Bolgogna - Pure Jewellery or Ritual Objects?

Back to TopTop