The meaning of the ring, from memento mori to marriage

HYPERALLERGIC
By Allison Meier
Master of Saint Augustine (Netherlandish, ca. 1490).
Rings are one of the most personal and oldest human adornments, evolving in complexity with metalwork techniques and the gemstone trade. "Treasures and Talismans: Rings from the Griffin Collection," now at the Cloisters branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, explores over 50 examples of rings from antiquity to the Renaissance, and their significance in love, devotion, and remembering mortality. [link]

Gold marriage ring (Byzantine, 6th–7th century) (courtesy Griffin Collection, photo by Richard Goodbody)
Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Cloisters: "Treasures and Talismans: Rings from the Griffin Collection" (Ends October 18, 2015); 99 Margaret Corbin Drive, Fort Tryon Park, Mew York, NY. metmeuseum.org