.I < Digitized by the Internet Archive in2007 with funding from Microsoft Corporation http://www.archive.org/details/fingerringlorehiOOjonerich FINGER-RINGLORE LONDON:PRtNTEDDV SPOTTISWOODEANDCO.,NB'\V-STRF.ETSQUARE ANDPARLIAMENTSTREET FINGER-RINGLORE HISTORICAL,LEGENDARY,ANECDOTAL BY WILLI AM] ONES,F.S.A. ,, WITHNUllfEROUSILLUSTRATIONS CHATTOANDWI NDUS,PICCADILLY 1877 .. TO MYW I FE: M1.33?JO PREFACE. IHADINTENDEDtoconfinemy observationsexclu-sivelytothesubjectof 'ringsuperstitions,'butin goingthrough awide fieldof olden literatureIfound somuch of interest incon_nection withringsgenerally, thatIhave venturedto givethe present workamore varied,and,Itrust,amore attractive character. The importanceof thisbranch of archceologycan-notbetoohighlyappreciated,embracingincidents, historicandsocial, fromtheearliest times,broughtto ournoticebyinvaluablespecimensofglypticart, many ofthem ofthe purest taste,beauty, andexcel-lency ;elucidatingobscurepointsinthe creedsand generalusagesof the past, types forartistic imitation, besidessupplyinglinkstofixparticulartimesand events. Inthuscontributingtotheextensionofknow-ledge,thesubjectofring-lorehas acloseaffinityto thatofnumismatics,butitposse'ssesthesupreme advantage of appealingto our sympathies andaffec-tions.SoHerrick sings of the wedding-ring : viiiPREFACE. Andasthisround Isnowherefound Toflaw,orelsetosever, So let our love Asendlessprove, Andpureasgoldforever ! It mustbeadmittedthat inmany casesofpar-ticularringsitissometimesdifficulttoarriveat concurrent conclusionsrespectingtheirdateand authenticity :muchhastobe left toconjecture,but the pursuit of enquiry intothe past isalwayspleasant andinstructive,howeverunsuccessfulinitsresults. One of ourmosteminentantiquarians writest ome thus:'We must not take for granted that everything inprintiscorrect,forfreshinformationisfromt ime totimeobtainedwhichshowstobeincorrectthat whtchwaspreviously written.' My acknowledgmentsare dueto friendsat home andabroad,whosecollectionsofringshavebeen openedformy inspection withtrue masonic cordiality. Ihavealsotothankthepublishers ofthis work fortheliberalmanner inwhichthey haveillustrated the text.Many of the engravings are fromdrawings takenfromthegem-room oftheBritish,andfrom othermuseums, andfromrare andcostly workson theFineArts,noteasily accessibletothegeneral reader.Descriptions ofringswithout pictorialrepre-sentations would(asinthe case ofcoins) materially PREFACE.ix lessentheirattraction,andwouldrenderthebook whatmight betermed'a gardenwithoutflowers.' In conclusionIwilladoptthevaledictory linesof an oldauthor,whowritesinhomely anddeprecatory verse: FORHERDEITIS,AMANTOATTAYNE TOMAKEATHINGPERFYTE,ATF I RSTSIGHT, BUTWANITISRED,ANDWELLOVERSEYNE FA1JTESMAYBEFOUNDE,THATNEVERCAMETOLYGHT, THOUGHTHEMAKERDOHISDILIGENCEANDMIGHT. PRAYEINGTHEMTOTAKEIT,ASIHAVEENTENDED, A:'i'DTOFORGYVEME,YFTHATIHAVEOFFENDED. CONTENTS. CJ{.UTERPACE I.RINGSFROMTHEEARLIESTPERIOD Il.RIXGSUPERSTITIONS9 I Ill.SECULARINVESTITUREBYTHERI)IG177 IV.RI!'>GSIN CONNECTIONWITHECCLESIASTICALUSAGESIg8 V.BETROTHALANDWEDDINGRI:\'GS 275 VI.TOKENRINGS 323 VII.!IJE)IORIALANDMORTUARYRINGS 355 VIII.PoSY,INSCRIPTION,ANDMOTTORINGS 390 IX.CUSTO)ISA :-IDJXCIDENTSI )ICONNECTIONWITH RINGS 4I9 X.REMARKABLERINGS457 APPENDIX 499 ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE Egyptian gold signet-ring2 Egyptian bronzerings4 Egyptian signet-rings6 Egyptianporcelain ring.9 Egyptianmummy,rings onthe 10 Egyptian gold ring fromGhizehI1 Etruscan ring with chimerre15 Roman-EgyptiaiHing15 Modern Egyptian rings17 ModernEgyptianringwith doublekeepers17 Etruscan ringrepresentingthe car of Admetus19 Etruscanringswithserpents and beetle19 Etruscanring with scarabreus20 Etruscanring withrepresenta-tion of two spirits in combat20 Etruscan ring with intaglio21 Greek andRoman rings .22 Late Roman rings.23 Ring foundat Silchester24 Ring of agroup pattern.24 Ancientplainrings24 Iron ring of aRomanknight25 Romanring,crescent-shaped26 PAGE Roman ring of colouredpaste .28 Galla-Roman ring representing acowor bull29 Romanthumb-ring29 Romanring, with a representa-tion of Janus32 Romanring,withfiguresof Egyptian deities.32 Romanring,withbusts;from the l\fuseeduLouvre.33 Roman ring,with headofRe-gulus34 Roman rings fromMontfaucon 36,37.38 Roman ringintheFlorentine Cabinet39 Roman'memorial' gift-rings .41 Anglo-Roman41 Anglo- RomanandRoman rings.42 Roman rings foundat tyons43 Roman bronze ring of acurious shape .44 Roman key-rings45 Romanrings,withinscription and monogram47 Roman' legionary' ring4 7 xivILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE Roum'legionary' ring48 Roman amber and glass rings.4S Byzantinering,fromMont-f.-,ucon49 Byzantine ring,foundatCon-stantinople49 Ringsfroii)I-Ierculaneumand Pompeii49 Roman bronzering50 Roman'trophy' ring50 Romanring,fromtheMuseum at Mayenceso Roman key-rings5 I Roman,late,fromthe Water- ton Collection52 Anglo-Saxon rings.'53 Early British(?)ring foundat Malton54 Ring of King Ethelwulf.54 Anglo-SaxonringsSS EarlySaxonringsfoundnear Salisbury59 South Saxon ring foundinthe Thames6o AncientIrish ringsfoundnear Drogh"eda.61 Early Irish gold ring62 The' Alhstan 'ring62 Anglo-Saxonringfoundnear Bosington.63 RingsfoundatCuerdale,near Preston64 RingsintheRoyalIrish Academy.65 Spiralsilverring,foundat Lago.66 Ring foundat Flodden Field66 Figured ring supposed to repre-sent St.Louis67 RingsfoundinPagan graves RingsoftheFrankishand PAGR 68 JV!erovingianperiods69,70 Gold'1\Iiddle Age' ring,from the Louvre RingsontheeffigyofLady Stafford 72 Enamelled floralring7 5 'Merchant's Mark 'rings75,S7 Ring of the sixteenth century.76 Ring of Frederic theGreat76 V enetian ring76 Italian diamond-pointedring76 Italian symbolical ring.77 V enetian ring78 East Indian ring,with drops of silver Indianrings.79 Spanish ring.79 'Giardinetti 'or guard rings79 Frenchringsofthefifteenth and sixteenth centuriesSo 'Escutcheon' ring,FrenchSI French rings81,S2,83 Moorish ringsS2 Bavarianpeasant'sring84 Thumb-rings.S9,90,139 Divination-rings101,102 Roman amulet-rings104,105,107 Astrologicalring.108 Zodiacal ring ..110 Amulet rings 126,138,141,151,152 Charm-rings.133,153 Talismanic rings134,135,136 Cabalistic rings139,147 Mysttcalrings140 Rings of theMagi.143 Ringswithmottoes,wornas medicaments148 ILL U.S TRA TIONS. XV I' AC;& l{ings,RunicI50 Toadstonerings157,158 Cramp rings.163,165 Sejeant'sring190 Ring of the'Beef Steak' Club193 The Fisherman's Ring.199 RingofThierry,Bishopof Verdun204 Ring of Pope PiusI I..206 Papal rings..208 Episcopal rings217,226,230,231 Episcopalthumb-ring219 Ring of ArchbishopSewall225 Ring of ArchbishopGreenfield225 Ring of Bishop Stanbery226 Decadering withfigureofSt. Catherine(?)249 Decade thumb-ring249 Silver decadering.250 Decade ringfoundnearCroy don250 Decade signet-ring .251 Decade rings.251,252 Decadering of Delhi work253 Trinity ring.254 Religiousrings254,255,256, 260,261,262,263 ' Paradise' rings2 57 Reliquary ring257 Early Christian rings258, 259, 268,269,270,271,272,273 Ecclesiasticalring264 Pilgrimring..264 Romankey-rings.294 Hebrew marriage and betrothal rings. Byzantinering Betrothal ring 299,300,302 304 Half of broken betrothalring. 307 309 I' AGE J ointea betrothal ring314 Gemmel ring,foundatHorse lydown316 Ring with representation of Lu cretia318 Wedding-ringofSirThomas Gresham319 Gemmelring .319 ' Claddugh'ring320 Betrothalring withsacredin-scription321 Devices on wedding rings322 The'Devereux' ring338 The 'Essex 'ring.342 Oldmourning ring360 Memorial rings,Charles I. 366, 367,370 Royalist memorial ring..3iO :.\Iemorialandmortuary rings373 Squared-workdiamondring found in Ireland.38o Mortuary rings at Mayence381,382 GoldringsfromEtruscanse pulchres.383 Ring foundatAmiens.383 Ringfoundinthetombof WilliamRufus,Winchester Cathedral..385 Ring discoveredinWinchester Cathedral..385 Ring of Childeric386 Motto and device rings390,4o6 Posy-ring391,417 Inscription rings410,411, 412,417 New Year's gift ring421,422 Poison-rings..433 Dial-rings452,453 Signet-ring ofMary,Queenof Scots,and theDarnley ring46o xvi ILLllSTRA TIONSo PAGR Supposed ringofRoger,King of Sicily465 The Worsley seal-ring467 Ring of Saint Louiso469 Ring-devicesoftheMedici familyo47:2,473 RingfoundatKenilworth Castleo474 PAGE Heraldic ringo481 MartinLuther'sbetrothaland marriageringso481,482,483 Shakspeare's ring(?)484 InitialsofSirThomasLucy, at CharlecoteHall486 Ivory:turned rings o488 Squirt ring494 ),,, .. . ' ))J,',:,. )l)),, FINGER-RING CHAPTERI. ". '. LORE. RINGSFROMTHEEARLIESTPERIOD. ))JJ )))))J' THEuseofsignet-ringsassymbolsofgreatrespectand authority ismentionedinseveralpartsoftheHoly Scrip-tures, from which it wouldseemthat they werethen common amongpersonsofrank.Theyweresometimeswhollyof metal, butfrequentlytheinscription wasborne onastone, set in goldorsilver.Theimpressionfromthe signet-riu'g of amonarch gavethe forceof aroyaldecreeto any instru-menttowhichitwasattached.Hencethedeliveryor transfer of it gavethepower of usingtheroyalname, and createdthehighest officein .the State.In Genesis(xli.42) wefindthat Joseph had conferred upon him the royalsignet,. as an insignia of authority.1 Thus Ahasuerustransferredhis 1 In1841Mr.JosephBonomireadapaperbeforetheRoyal Society of Literatureon anancientsignet-ring of gold,resemblingi.n every respect,exceptthename of the king,the ring. whichPharaoh put on thefinger of J oseph.The account of itspurchase,loss,and subse-quentrecovery isveryinteresting.It wasboughtby Lord Ashburn-ham at Cairoin1825.In thespring ofthesameyearhisLordship embarkedavaluablecollectiononboardabrighehadchartered at Alexandria,to carry his heavy baggage to Smyrna.Thiswasattacked and pillagedby Greekpirates,whosoldthei.rbooty intheisland of Syra.Theringthenbecametheproperty ofaGreekmerchant,in B RINGSFROMTHEEARLIESTPERIOD.7 In theBritishMuseum, inthefirstEgyptianRoom,is thesignet-ringofQueenSebek-nefru(Sciemiophris). 'Sebek ' wasapopularcomponentofpropernames after thetwelfthdynasty,probablybecausethisqueenwas beloved by thepeople.On Assyriansculpturesarefound annletsandbracelets ;ringsdonotappeartcihavebeen generally worn. AtameetingoftheSociety of Biblical Archreology,in June1873,_Dr.H.F.Talbot,F.R.S.,readaninteresting paperonthelegendof'IshtardescendingtoHades,'in whichhetranslated fromthe tablets the goddess's voluntary descentintothe AssyrianInferno.Inthecuneifonnitis callerl' the landof noreturn.'Ishtarpassessu_ccessively throughtheseven gates,compelled tosurrenderher jewels, viz.hercrown,ear-rings,head-jewels,frontlets,girdle, ji11ger- andtoe-rings,andnecklace,Acupfullofthe WatersofLifeisgiventoher,wherebyshe returns tothe upper world,receivingat each gate of Hades the je,velsshe hadbeendeprived ofinher descent. Mr.GreP.ne,F.S.A., has an Egyptian gold ring,formerly inthepossessionofthelateMr.Salt,belongingtothe nineteenthdynasty,probablyfromtheLowerCountry, belowMemphis.Itisengraved'vitharepresentationof thegoddessNephthis,orNeith.Anothergoldring'ofa laterperiod,fromtheUpper Country,dates, probably,from thetimeofPsammitichus,B.c.671to617. In the collectionofEgyptian antiquities formedby the lateR.Hay,Esq.,ofLimplum,N.B.,weretwoGrreco-Egyptiangoldrings,found,itisconjectured,inthe Aasa-seef,nearThepes.Oneoftheseisoftheusualsignet form, but without aninscription;the other is of anEtruscan pattern,andiscomposed of aspiral 'vire,whoseextremities 8FINGER-RINGLORE. endinatwistedloop,withknob-likeintersections.Both theseobjectsareoffineworkmanship,andare wroughtin verypuregold.SirJ.G.Wilkinson,in'Mannersand Customsofthe AncientEgyptians,'remarks:' Therings weremostly ofgold,andthismetalseemsalwaysto have beenpreferredtosilverforringsandotherarticlesof jewellery.Silver rings are,however,occasionally to be m e ~ with,andtwoinmypossession,whichwereaccidentally foundinatempleatThebes,areengravedwithhiero-glyphics,containingthenameoftheroyalcity.Bronze wasseldomused forrings ;somehavebeen discoveredof brassandiron(ofaRomantime),butivoryandblue porcelainwerethematerialsof whichthosewornby the lower classeswere usually made.' TheRev.C.W.Kingobserves:'Ihaveseenfinger-ringsofivoryoftheEgyptianperiod,their headsengraved withsphinxes and figuresofeyescut inlow relief as camei, and originally coloured.' Theporcelainfinger-ringsofancientEgyptareex-tremely beautiful,the band oftheringbeing seldomabove one-eighth ofaninchinthickness.Somehaveaplate in whichinhas-reliefisthegodBaal,full-faced,playingon the tambourine,asthe inventor ofmusic;others havetheir plates intheshapeof the rightsymbolicaleye,the emblem of thesun,of afishof the perch species,or of ascarabreus. Somefewrepresentflowers.Thosewhichhaveelliptical plateswithhieroglyphicalinscriptionsbearthenamesof Amen-Ra,and of othergodsand monarchs,asAmenophis III.,AmenophisIV.,andAmenmestoftheeighteenth andnineteenthdynasties.Oneoftheserings has alittle bugleon eachside,asifithadbeenstrung onthe beaded workofamummy, insteadofbeingplacedon thefinger. RINGSFROMTHEEARLIESTPERIOD.9 Blueistheprevalentcolour,butafewwhiteandyellow rings,andsomeevenomamentedwithredandpurple colours,havebeen discovered.Itisscarcelycrediblethat thesering:;,of asubstancefinerandmorefragilethanglass, werewornduringlife,anditseemshardly likelythatthey werewornby thepoorerclasses,fortheuseoftheking's nameonsepulchralobjectsseemstohavebeen restricted tofunctionariesofstate.Somelargerringsofporcelain ofaboutaninchindiameter,seven-eighthsofaninch broad,andone-sixteenthofaninchthick,madeinopen work,representstheconstantly-repeatedlotus-flowers,and thegodRa,orthesun,seatedandfloatingthroughthe heavensinhisboat. At the Winchester meetingof the Archreological Institute in1845 a curious swivel-ringof blueporcelain wasexhibited, foundatAbydusinUpperEgypt;settingmodem.It hasadoubleimpression:onthe one side is the king making anofferingto thegods,withtheemblemsof lifeandpurity; ontheothersidethenameofthemonarchintheusual ' cartouche,'onethatiswellknown, being thatof Thothmes Ill., whomWilkinsonsupposestohavebeenthePharaoh ofExodus.Itisworthyofremarkthatthiscartouche is ' supported 'by asps,whichareusually consideredtobetheattributesof royalty. Theannexedengravingrepresents anEgyptianring,enpateceramique, fromM.Dieulafait's' Diamantset PierresPrecieuses.'EgyptianPorcelainRing. ThesignetofSennacheribintheBritishMuseumis madeof Amazonstone,one ofthehardeststonesknownto thelapidary,andbearsanintaglio' which,'observesthe 10FINGER-RINGLORE. Rev.C.W.King,'byitsextrememinuteness,andthe precisionofthedrawing,displaystheexcellenceto which the art hadalready attained.' On amummy-caseintheBritishMuseumisarepre-ser.tationofawomanwithcrossedhands,coveredwith rings;thelefthandis' mostloaded.Uponthe thumb isa signet withhieroglyphicsonthesurface,three ringson the forefinger,twoonthesecond,one. formedlikeasnailshell, the samenumber onthenext,andone on thelittlefinger. The right hand carries only athumb ring,and twouponthe third finger. Ringsonthefingersofa?\1ummy. SirJ.G.Wilkinsonobserves:'The left wasconsidered thehandpeculiarlyprivilegedtobeartheseornaments ; and it isremarkable that itsthirdfinger wasdecoratedwith agreaternumbert h a ~anyother,andwasconsideredby them,as by us, par excellmce,the ring-finger,though there is n? evidenceof itshaving beenso honoured at themarriage ceremony.' Thesameauthor mentionsthatringswereafavourite decorationamongtheEgyptians ;womenworesometimes RINGSFROJIITHEEARLIESTPERIOD.1I twoorthreeonthesamefinger.Theywerefrequently wornonthethumb.Someweresimple,othershadan engravedstone,andfrequentlyborethenameofthe owner;othersthemonarchinwhosetimehelived,and theywereoccasionallyintheformofasnail,aknot,a snake,orsomefancydevice.Acat-emblemofthe goddessEast, or Pasht,the Egyptian Diana- wasa favourite subject forladies'rings. One of theoldest,ifnot themostancient ringknown, issupposedtobethatinthecollectionofDr. Abbot, of Cairo,nowpreserved withhisotherEgyptianantiquities at New York.It isthusdescribed by him :-'This remarkable pieceofantiquityisinthehigheststateofpreservation, EgyptianGoldRing,fromGhizeh. and wasfoundatGhizeh,inatomb nearthe excavationof ColonelVyse,calledCampbell'stomb.Itisof finegold, andweighsnearlythreesovereigns.Thestyleofthe hieroglyphicswithintheovalmakethenameofthat Pharaoh(Cheops,Shofo)ofwhomthepyramidwasthe tomb.Thedetailsareminutelyaccurateandbeautifully executed.T h ~heavenisengraved withstars ;thefoxor jackal hassignificantlines withinitscontour;thehatchets havetheirhandlesboundwiththongs,asisusualinthe sculptures ;thevolumeshavethestringswhichbindthem hangingbelowtheroll-differing inthisrespectfromany RINGSFROMTHEEARLIESTPERIOD.13 shoulders,uponwhichisstnmgasignet,informofacat, madeof greenish-blueglazedearthenware. Fromthecollection of R.H.SodenSmith,Esq.F.S.A., anancientpalegoldring,withrevolvingcylindersoflapis-lazuli,engravedwithhieroglyphics ;theshouldersofthe hoopwrappedroundwithwireornament. TheWatertonCollectioncontainsEgyptianringsof variousdescriptions:oneofsilver,withrevolvingbezelof cornelianrepresentingthesymbolicalrighteye.Several ringsof glazed earthenware;oneof gold,verymassive,with revolvingscarabof glazedearthenware,partiallyencasedin gold.Agoldring,thehoopofclose-cordedwork,re-volving bezel with blood-stonescarab, engravedwithHathor and child.The same engraving isonagold signet-ring, 1vith vesica-shapedbezel,andupon awhite-metal ring,wherethe figuresaresurroundedby lotus-flowers.Anothergoldsig-net-ring isengravedwiththefigureof Amen-ra;aprobably Egyptianwhite-metalring,'vithnarrowoblongbezel,en-gravedwithafriezeoffigures,andwingedGenii,divided bycandelabra. SeveraloftheEgyptianringsintheMuseumofthe Louvreat ParisdatefromthereignofKingMreris.One of theoldestringsextant isthatofCheops,thefounderof I theGreatPyramid,whichwasfoundinatombthere.It is of gold,withhieroglyphics. The Egyptianglass-workersproducedsmallmosaicsof themostminuteanddelicatefinish,andsufficientlysmallto bewornon rings. Dr.Birch,inavery interestingpapercommunicatedto theSociety ofAntiquaries,at themeetingofNovember17, 187o,observes,withregardtothescarabreiand signet-rings oftheancientEgyptians,thattheuseofthesecurious 14 FINGER-RINGLORE objects (the exhibitioncomprisingupwardsoffivehundred scarabs fromthecollectionofEgyptianantiquitiesformed bythelateR Hay,Esq., of Sinplum,N. B.,to whichIhave alluded)datesbackfromaremoteperiodofEgyptian history.'As it is well known,theywerenot merelymadein porcelain,but alsoinsteatite,orstea-schist,andthevarious semi-precious stones suitable forengraving, such ascornelian, sard,andsuch-like.'In the timeofthetwelfthdynastythe cylindricalring,alsofoundinuseamongtheAssyriansand Babylonians,cameintovogue.The hardstones andgems wereof laterintroduction,probably. undertheinfluenceof Greekart,fortheancientEgyptiansthemselvesdonot appear tohavepossessedthemethodofcuttingsuchhard substances.Afew,however,exist,wh.ichareclearlyof greatantiquity-as, forexample, a specimeninyellowjasper now intheBritishMuseum. Theprincipalpurposetowhichthesescarabswere appliedwastoformthebezelofasignet-ring, thesubstanceinwhichtheimpressionwastakenbeinga softclay,withwhichaletterwassealed. It issingularthat someof these objectshavebeen found in ringsfixedwiththeplaneengravedsideinwards,render-ingthemunfit forthe purposes of sealing.It iswell known thattheuseof thesescarabswassoextensiveastohave prevailed beyondEgypt,beingadoptedby thePhcenicians and theEtruscans. OnthissubjectRev.C.W.King temarks thatgold rings,evenof theEtruscanperiod,areveryrare,thesignets ofthatnationstillretainingtheformofscarab::ei.'The mostmagnificentEtruscanringknown,belongingonceto thePrincedeCanino,andnow in thematchlesscollection of antiquegemsintheBritishMuseum,isformedofthe RINGSFROllfTHEEARLIESTPERIOD.15 fore-partsoftwolions,whosebodiescomposetheshank, whilst theirheads and fore-pawssupportthesignet-a small sandscarab,engravedwithaliottregardant,andsetin an elegantbezelof filagree-work.The twolionsarebeatenup infullreliefofthingoldplate,inastiffarchaicstyle,but verycarefully finished.' The Waterton Collection contains a goldring of Etruscan workmanship,of singularbeauty.Itisdescribedby Padre Geruchi,oftheSacredCollege,asabetrothalornuptial ring.It hasfiguresofHerculesandJuno placedbackto backonthehoop,havingtheirarmsraisedabovetheir heads.Herculesiscoveredwiththe skinof alion,Juno withthatof agoat. Fairholt,in'Ramblesofan Arch:oeologist,'describesan ancientEtruscanringintheBritishMuseum,withchimer:oe onitopposingeachother.Thestyleandtreatment partakelargelyof ancientEasternart.Thereisalsoin the Etruscan,whhChimerre.Roman-Egyptian. samecollection aremarkableringhavingtheconvolutions ofaserpent,theheadofSerapisatoneextremity andof Isisat theother ;by thisarrangement oneor otherof them would alwaysbecorrectly posited ;ithas,also,thefurther advantageof beingflexible,owingtothegreatsweepof itscurve.Silverringsarerarerthanthoseofgoldin 16FlNGER-RfNGLORE. thetombsofEtruria,andironandbronzeexamplesare gilt. AlltheHindooMoguldivinitiesof antiquity hadrings; thestatuesof thegods atElephanta,supposedtobeofthe highestantiquity,hadfinger-rings. TheRev.C.W.Kingdescribesaringinthe Waterton collection,ofremarkableinterest-apparentlydatingfrom the LowerEmpire,fortheheadismuchthrownup, and has thesidespiercedintoapattern,the'interrasileopus,so muchinfashionduringthosetimes.It issetwithtwo diamondsof(probably)acarateach :one aperfectoctahe-dronof considerable lustre,theotherdullerandirregularly crystallised.Anothersuchexamplemightbesoughtforin vainthroughoutthelargestcabinetsof Europe.' MtertheconquestofAsiaAlexandertheGreatused the signet-ringof DariustosealhisedictstothePersians; hisownsignetheused forthose addressedto theGreeks. Xerxes,King of Persia,wasagreatgem-fancier,buthis chief signetwasaportrait,eitherof himself,orof Cyrus,the founderoftheJnonarchy.Healsoworearingwiththe figureofAnaitis,theBabylonianVenus,uponit.Thucy-didessaysthat thePersiankingshonouredtheir subjectsby giving them ringswiththelikenessesof DariusandCyrus. ThelateMr.FairholtpurchasedinCairoaringworn byanEgyptianladyofthehigherclass.It isasimple hoopoftwistedgold,towhichhangsaseriesofpendant ornaments,consistingofsmallbeadsofcoral,.andthin platesofgold,cuttorepresentthe leavesof aplant.As the handsmove,theseornamentsplay about thefinger,and averybrillianteffectmightbeproducedif diamondswere usedinthependants. RINGSFROMTHEEARLIEST PERIOD.17 The ringswornby the middle class of Egyptianmen are usually of silver,setwithmineralstones,and are valuedas theworkof the silversmithsof Mecca,that sacredcity being supposedtoexert aholy influenceonallthe worksitorigi-nates. lllodernEgyptian Rings. Acuriousring withadouble keeper isworn by Egyptian men.Itiscomposedentirelyofcommoncastsilver,set withmineralstone.The lowermost keeper,of twisted wire, isfirstput on the finger,then followsthe ring.The second keeperisthenbroughtdown uponit:thetwo being held by a bracewhichpassesattheback of thering,andgivessecurity to the whole. Tavernier statesinhis'Tra-vels 'thatthePersiansdidnot makegoldrings,theirreligion forbiddingthewearingofany articleof.thatmetalduring ModernEgyptianRing,with DoubleKeepers. prayers,it wouldhavebeentootroublesometotakethem offeverytimetheyperformedtheir devotions.The gems mountedingoldrings,soldbyTaverniertotheKing, werereset insilver by nativeworkmen. c !8FINGER-RINGLORE. The customof wearing ringsmay havebeen introduced into GreecefromAsia,andintoItaly fromGreece.They serveCIthetwofoldpurpose,_ornamentalanduseful,being employedasaseal,whichwascalledsjhragt's,aname giventothe gemorstoneonwhich figureswereengraved. TheHomeric poemsmakemention of ear-ringsonly,but in the later Greeklegendstheancient heroesarerepresented aswearingfinger-rings.Counterfeitstonesinringsare men.tioned inthe time of Solon.Transparentstones when extractedfromtheremainsofthe original iron-rings ofthe ancients aresometimes foundbacked by aleafofred gold as afoi\.1 The useof colouredfoilswasmerely to deceive and imposenpontheunwary,by givingtoavery inferior jewelthefinestcolour.Solonmadealawprohibiting sellers ofringsfromkeepingthemodel of aring they had sold. The LacedWIN.D(JS,P/CCA.DILLY.13 GOSSE(Ed.mundW.)-ONVIOLANDFLUTE.Second Edition.With aVignette by W.B.ScoTT.Small Svo,cloth gilt, SS GREENWOOD'S(James)LOW-LIFE DEEPS:An Accountof the StrangeFish to be foundthere;including''The :ManandDog Fight," with muchadditionalandconfirmatory evidence ;"\VithaTally-Man/'uAFallen Star,""The Betting Barber,".. ACoall\farriage," &c.\Vith Illustrations in tint by ALFRBD CoNCANEN.Crown Svo, cloth extra, gilt,71.6d. 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"The genius of Jl.{r.Lamb,as inhis various writings,takesrankwith the most originalof theage.As acritic he stands facile jriuceps inthesubject he handled.SearchEnglish literature through,fromitsfirst beginnings until now, and you willfindnone like him.Thereisnotacriticismheeverwrotethat doesnot directly tell you anumber of things you hadno previou!i notion of.Incriticismhe was indeed, m all senses of the word, a discoverer-like Vasco Nunez or Magellan.In that very domain of literaturewithwhichyoufanciedyourselfmostvariously and closely acquainted, hewould show you 'fresh fields and pastures new,' and thesethe most fruitfuland delightful.For the riches he dlscovered were richer that they had lain so more valuable werethey, whenfound,thattheyhadeludedthe search of ordinary men.As an essayist,CharlesLamb willberemembered inyears to come withRabelais and .Montaigne,withSirThomasBrowne,withSteeleand with Addison.He unites many of the finestcharacteristics of these severalwriters. 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LONGFELLOW'SPROSEWORKS,Complete.Including ''Outre Mer,"'1 Hyperion, 11 Kavanagh," ''ThePoets and Poetry of Europe," and "Driftwood."\VithPortraitandIllustrationsbyVALENTIXEBROl\ILEV. Boopages,crownSvo,cloth gilt, 71.6d. CHATTO&>WINDUS,PICCADILLY. LONGFELLOW'SPOETICALWORKS.Withnumerousfine Illustrations.Crown Bvo,cloth extra, gilt,7s.6d. "Longfellow, in the'GoldenLegend,'has enteredmore closely into the temper ofthe Monk, forgoodandforeviJ,thaneveryettheological writer or historian, though they may have given their life's labour to the analysis."-RGsKrN. "His are laurelshonourably gainedandgently worn.Withoutcomparinghim with others,it is enoughif we declareourconvictionthat he has composed poems whichwinliveaslongasthelanguageinwhichtheyarewritten.,.-jAMKS RussRLL LowELL. "Mr. Longfellow has formany yearsbeenthebestknownandthe most read of American poets;and his popularity isof the right kind,and rightly and fairlywon. He has not stooped to catch attenuonby artifice,nor strivento forceit by violence. Hisworkshavefacedthetestofparodyandburlesque(whichinthe5edaysis almostthe common lotofwritingsofany mark), and have come offunharmed.'"-StzturdaJI Review. ACLISE'S GALLERY OFILLUSTRIOUSLITERARY CHARACTERS.(THE FAMOUSFRASERPoRTRAITS.)With Notes by thelate\VtLLIAMMAGINN,LL.D.Edited,withcopiousAdditional Notes,byWILLIAMBATES,B.A.Thevolumecontains 83CHARAC TE.RISTICPoRTRAITS,now firstissued inacompleteform.Demy 4to,clothgilt and giltedges,31s. 6d.. "One of the most interesting volumes of this year's literature."-Times. "Deserves aplace on every drawing-room table, andmay not unfitly beremoved fromthe drawing-room to the library."-Sjt"ctator. MADRENATURAversusTHEMOLOCHOFFASHION. ByLUKBLIMNER.With32Illustrationsbythe Author.FOURTHEDITION, revised and enlarged.Crown 8vo,cloth,extra gilt,21. 6d. 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''.From anovel so repletewith goodthings,andone so fullofSignificance,asit bringsbeforeus whatwe can feelisthe realspirit of homelife intheFar \Vest, thereisnopossibilityof obtaining extractswhichwillconvey tothereader any idea of the purport of thebook..,.The book willno doubtbe a great favourite withboys,Jorwhom it must in good part ha\ebeen intended;butnext to boys, we say that it might be most prized by philosophers andpoets."-Examine1. "Will del1ghtallthelads whomay getholdofit.\Vehave madethe experi-ment upon ayoungster,and fCJ,Undthat the reading of thebookbrought on constant peals oflaughter."-Scotsman. 't Thebook,whichisavery amusingone,isdesignedprimarily forboys,but lderpeople also will findit worth looking through."-Academy. "'Tne earlier part of thebookistoourthinkingthemost amu!Jng thing .Mark Twain has written.The humour isnot always uproarious,but it is always genuine, and sometimes almost pathetic. ''-Athemzum. "A capitalboy's book."-Sta11dard., u Abright,readable,andinformingbook,which we can mostcordlally recom-mendtothe class whoareontheoutlookforsuchbooks.n-i\'"ew. "'Ato be read.There is a certain freshness and no\elty about it,apractically romantic character,soto speak, which willmake it very attractive."-Spectta:tor. 20 BOOKS. PUBLISHED MARKTWAIN'SPLEASURETRIPontheCONTINENT _ofEUROPE.Post Svo,illustrated boarcls,os. MARSTON'S(Dr.Westland)DRAMATICandPOETICAL WORKS.Collected Library Edition,inTwo Vols.crown 8vo,I8s. u 1 ThePatrician's Daughter' is an 04Sisinthe desert of modern dramatic Jitera .. tureareal emanationof mind.Wedonotrecoliectanymodernwork in which ofthouk'b.tare sofreelydeveloped,except the 'Torquato -r:,asso'of Goethe. The play is a work of art mthe same sense that aplay of Sophodes ISaworkart ; it isouesimpleideain aofgradual.d_!!!velopment.T!"te'Favounte of Fortune' is one ofthe most 1mportomt add1ttons to the stock of Enghsh prose comedy that has been made during the present century. "-Times. MARSTON'S(PhilipBourke)SONGTIDE,andotherPoems. Second Edition.Crown 8vo, cloth extra,Ss. "This is afirstwork of extraordinary performance and of stillmore extraordinary promise.TheyoungestschoolofEnglishpoetry has received an important acces sionto its ranks in Philip Bourke Marston.,-Examiner. MARSTON'S (P.B.) ALL INALL:Poems andSonnets.Crown Svo,cloth extra. Bs. ''Many of these poems are leavened with the leaven of genuine poetical sentiment, and expressed with grace and beauty of language.Atender melancholy, as well as apenetratingpathos, givescharactertomuchof theirsentiment, andlendsitan irresistible interest to all who can feel. "-Standard. 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MEYRICK.New and greatly improved Edition, corrected throughout by the Author, withthe assistance of ALBERT\VAY and others.Illustrated by morethan100Plates.splendidlyIlluminated in gold and silver;also an additional Plate of the Tournament of Locks and Keys.Three Vols.imperial 4to,half-morocco extra, gilt edges,,lto tos. u\Vhile the splendour of thedecorations of this work iswell calculatedtoexcite the novelcharacter of itscoR tents, the very curious extracts fromthe rare MSS. inwhichitabounds,andthepleasingmannerinwhichtheauthor'santi.. quarian reSearches are prosecuted, will tempt many who take up the book in idleness, toperuseitwithcare.Nopreviousworkcanbecompared,in- pointofextent, arrangement, science, orutility,with the one nowin question.ISt.It forthe first timesupplies, to our schools of art,correct andascertained data forcostume,in its noblestandmostimportantbranch-historical painting.2nd.It affords asimple, clear, andmostconclusiveelucidation of agreat number of passages inourgreat dramatic poets-ay, andinthe works ofthose of Greece and Rome-against which commentatorsandscholiastshavebeentryingtheirwitsforcenturies.3rd.It throws afloodof light upon themanners,usages,andsportsof our ancestors,from the time of the Anglo-Saxons down to the reign of Charles the Second.Andlastly, it at once removes avast number of idletraditions and ingenious fables, which one compiler of history,copyingfromanother,hassucceededintransmittingthrough the lapse of fouror fivehundred years. MEYRICK'S ENGRAVEDILLUSTRATIONS OF ANCIENT ARMSANDARMOUR.I54highlyfinishedEtchingsoftheCollectionat Goodrich Court,Herefordshire, engravedby ]OSEPHSKELTON1 withHistorical and CriticalDisquisitionsby SirS. _R.MEYRlCK.Two Vols. 1mperial4to, with Portrait. half-morocco extra, gilt edges,4 14s.6d. u\Veshouldimaginethattheposst::ssorsofDr. Meyrick'sformer great work would eagerly addMr.Skelton'sasasuitableillustration.In the firstthey have the history of Armsand Armour;inthesecond work,beautiful engravings of all thedetails,madeout with sufficientminutenessto servehereafter as patternsfor artists or workmen."-Gentlemm:'s llfa;:azine. CJJA TTO&>WINDUS,PICCADILLY. 21 MUSESOFMAYFAIR:VersdeSociete oftheNineteenth Cen-tury.Including Selections from T&NNYSON,BROWNING,SwtNBURNB,RossETTI,. ]B:ANINGKLow,LoCKER,INGOLDssv,Hooo, LVTToNC.S.C;,LANDOR, AusTIN DossoN,HENRYLEIGH?&c:&c.EditedbyH.CnoLMONDELRY*PENNRLL. Crown Bvo,cloth extra, g1lt, gtlt edges, "JS6d. llLDDRAMATISTS.Crown Svo,clothextrawith Vignette Portraits, price 6s. per vo1. 1 Ben Jonson'sWorks.Vol. Ill.tlleTranslationsofthelliad WithNotes,CriticalandExplanaand Odyssey. tory,and aBiographical!llemoirbyM1,WkI1a WtLLtAMGtFFORDEdited by Lieutar owe sors.ne umg Col.}WINDUS,PICCADILLY. 29 STRUTT'SREGAL AND ECCLESIASTICALANTIQUITIES OFENGLAND:Authentic Representations ofallthe English Monarchs, from Edward theConfessor to Henry thewith many GreatPersonages eminent under theirseveralReigns.New Ediuon, with criticalNotes by J.R. PLANCH:t, SomersetHerald.Royal4to,with72Engravin_gsfromManuscripts,1\.ionu-ments, &c., beautifully Coloured, half-Roxburghe, 3 JS. ;or the Plates splendidly IlluminatedinGold and Colours,halfmorocco,J:zozos. MR.SWINBURNE'SNEW POEM. ERECHTHEUS:ATragedy.ByALGERNONCHARLESSwiN BUR NB.SECONDEDIT[ONCrown Svo,cloth extra, 6s. uThe easy sweep of his flowingversesuggestsanythingrather thanthe ideaof effort.Nqr have we ever seenhimstrongerthanInthtspoemofErechtluus. whilenoone can say.asthey are bornealong with his melodiousnumbers.thathe has been betrayedintosacrificingmeaningtosound.Heseemsto havecaught the enthusiasm of acongenial subject ;to have been carried back tothe spirit of an heroic age,to havefiredhis faney with thethoughts and sensations that might have animatedthesoulof agodhom Athenianinthesupremecrisisofhis country's fate..Neverbeforehas1\.fr.Swinburne shown himselfmore masterlr inhi :; choruseli;magnificent intheir fireandspirit,they havemore thanthe usuagraces ofdiction and smoothness of melody.The best proof of the winning beauty of these choruses isthe extremereluctance with whichyoubring yourselfto apause inthe course of quotation.Youfeelit almost sacri{egiousto detach thegems,and it is wi.thasense of your ruthless Vandalismthatyou shattertheartist'ssetting.'' -Edinburgh Review, July,I876. 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