Finger-ring lore

by F.S.A. William Jones

Arranged according to the various nations in the order of their antiquity or pre-eminence.

1	A	Egyptian.
2	B	Assyrian.
3	C	Babylonian.
4	D	Phœnician.
5	E	Hebrew.
6	F	Greek.
7	G	Etruscan.
8	H	Roman.
9	I	Early Christian.
10	J	Byzantine.
11	K	Hindoo.
12	L	Persian.
13	M	Sassanian.
14	N	Gnostic.
15	O
16	P	Celtic.
17	Q	Scandinavian.
18	R	Teutonic.
19	S	Gaulish.
20	T	Frankish (Merovingian).
21	U	Ancient British.
22	V	Ancient Scotch.
23	W	Ancient Irish.
24	X	Anglo-Saxon (Early).
25	Y
26	Z	Unascertained and Miscellaneous.

CLASS II.—MEDIEVAL AND MODERN.

DIVIDED INTO OFFICIAL AND PERSONAL.

OFFICIAL.
Ecclesiastical.
27	A	Rings of Popes, or with Papal insignia.
28	B	Rings of Cardinals, or with Cardinals’ insignia.
29	C	Rings of Archbishops or Bishops, or with Episcopal insignia.
30	D	Rings of Abbots and Priors, or Abbesses or Prioresses.
31	E	Rings of other Ecclesiastical Dignitaries.
Civil.
32	F	Rings bearing the insignia of Sovereigns, not being Signet Rings.
33	G	Rings of Investiture.
34	H	Credential Rings.
35	I	Presentation Rings (Sergeants).
36	K	Masonic Rings.
Military.
37	L	Rings worn by Knights of various orders.
		Knights of Malta.
		"Templars.
		"St. John of Jerusalem.
PERSONAL.
Signet Rings.
38	a	Heraldic, with Coats of Arms or Badges.
39	b	Merchants’ Marks.
40	c	Crowned Letters or Devices.
41	d	Letters without Crowns.
42	e	Other Devices.
43	f	Persian, Cufic, and Arabic, with names.
44	g	Antique Intagli in Medieval settings.
Love, Betrothal, and Marriage.
45	h	Tokens of Love.
46	i	Posy Rings.
47	j	Giardinetti.
48	k	Betrothal Rings.
49	l	Gimmal Rings.
50	m	Marriage Rings.
51	n	Jewish Nuptial Rings.
Mourning and Memorial Rings.
52	o	Rings with Hair.
53	p	Rings with Portraits.
54	q	Rings with Memorial Devices and Inscriptions.
55	r	Rings with Emblems of Death.
Historical Rings.
56	s	Rings used by, or belonging to, Historical Persons.
57	t	Rings commemorating Historical Events.
58	u	Rings emblematical of particular Persons, Events, or Countries.
Religious.
59	v	Devotional (Decade).
60	w	Rings bearing Religious Devices or Inscriptions.
61	x	Rings bearing Figures or Emblems of Saints.
62	y	Pilgrims’ Rings (Jerusalem, Mount Serrat, &c.).
63	z	Rings for containing Reliques.
Charm, Magic, and Medicinal.
64	a a	Cramp Rings.
65	b b	Rings with Toadstones or other substances believed to possess medicinal virtues.
66	c c	Astrological and Cabalistic Rings.
67	d d	Talismanic, with Cufic, Arabic, and Gnostic Inscriptions.
68	e e	Poison Rings.
Ornamental Rings.
69	f f	Rings with Precious Stones, according to their kind.
70	g g	Rings set with enamels, paste, or other ornaments, having no special meaning.
71	h h	Peasants’ Rings.
72	i i	Asiatic, including Modern Persian, Hindoo, and Chinese.
73	k k	African.
74	l l	Miscellaneous Rings, which group will contain all such as cannot be brought under the other heads of classification, such as whistle-rings, puzzle-rings, squirt-rings, jointed rings to form devices, rings with watches, dials, compasses, &c.
75	m m	Rings made of strange and unusual materials, not being metal.
76	n n	Unascertained.

Additional Note.

In the chapter on ‘Memorial and Mortuary Rings’ (page 378), I have related the circumstance of an Arabian princess in Yemen, who had been buried with her rings and other jewels; a tablet recording that she had vainly endeavoured to exchange them for flour during the great famine mentioned in the Holy Scriptures.

A singular incident of this character is stated in Forbes’s ‘India’ (vol. ii. p. 18): ‘The present finest mausoleum in Cambaya was erected to the memory of a Mogul of great rank, who, during a famine which almost depopulated that part of the country, offered a measure of pearls for an equal quantity of grain; but not being able to procure food at any price, he died of hunger, and this history is related on his monument.’