The Devotional Ring from Vinerea and the Virgin Mary Monogram Rings in the Middle Age
For several reasons one category of Middle Age rings was never introduced in a typological study until now; we are talking here about Virgin Mary monogram rings. The circumstances of this approach are given by a unique silver ring with monogram “M” that comes from a medieval hoard found in Vinerea (today incorporated in Cugir, Romania), in 1965. Thus, the aim of this paper is to connect this artifact with other similar ring symbols that might depict identical or related monograms. Except for the ring from Balatonszabadi, which is made out of bronze, all the artifacts discussed here are made out of silver.
Typology
Type A
In this category I clustered all the ring bezels where the Gothic uppercase “M” is engraved individually, surrounded by purely decorative elements designed to fill the gap in the disc ring. The bezels in this case are always circular.
Subtype A1. In this category are the rings on whose bezels was engraved the “M” monogram in its “classic” style: Vinerea (fig. 1/1), Arača (M 80) (fig. 1/2).
Subtype A2. Groups together the Gothic rings with the ends of capitalized “M” engraved in the form of volutes. It is important to mark one subtype A1: Rădăuţi (Fig. 1/3), Baia (tomb) (fig. 1/5). Also in this subtype we have included the signet ring of boyar Giulea, issued in Moldova in 1387 (fig. 1/6).
Subtype A3. Includes several rings (fig. 1/7-10), whose monogram on the bezel is a stylized gothic capital letter “M” placed in the middle of some adjacent triangles, related or not to the central point: Sălişte (fig. 1/7), Arača (fig. 1/8) and Négyszállás (fig. 1/9-10).
Type B
In this category we included four rings whose monogram consists in the capital letter “M” in ligature with other letters. Most rings of this type (Baia, Arača) have circular bezels, but there is also a ring with a hexagonal plate (Balatonszabadi).
Subtype B1. Includes circular bezel rings, with monogram “MR”: Baia (fig. 1/11), Arača (fig. 1/12-13). Concerning the rings from Arača and Baia, next to the “R” is engraved a plant with three leafs, in a lying pose.
Subtype B2. In this category we include the hexagonal seal-ring from Balatonszabadi (fig. 1/14 = pl. 1/2), which contains the monogram “MARIA” in ligature. Here also we have a plant next to “R” letter, but with five petals instead.
Type C
In this category we include one ring found at Négyszállás cemetery (Hungary). The artifact has a circular disc, but differs from types A and B by the presence of an inscription on the bezel (SABODEYCHI - Szabó Decsi) framing the Gothic monogram “M” (fig. 1/15).
Background and chronology
Most of the rings discussed here were found in a funerary context: such as the discoveries from Rădăuţi, one ring from Baia, all the rings from Arača and Négyszállás. The Balatonszabadi ring was also found in similar circumstance. From different types of contexts are the rings from Vinerea (hoard), the second ring from Baia (a pavement) and Sălişte (church no. 3). The contexts of their discovery enable a reliable dating of the artifacts.
The rings from Moldavia have a close chronology: namely the first half of the XVth century. The stamp of boyar Giulea, who was moved from Maramureş in Moldavia, can be found on a document from 1387. The two rings from Transylvania can be probably placed in the XVth century, as well as the rings from Arača cemetery. We have a similar situation in the case of the rings from Hungary, at Négyszállás, all found in a funerary context (cemetery no. I, 241, 297). The SABODEYCHI engraving ring belongs to the XVth century. Considering these facts and our typology, we can infer that the type C is the earliest one, followed by type A and B.
These kinds of artifacts can also be found in Western Europe. We can list here an Italian ring with an “M” monogram preserved at British Museum, (fig. 2/1) and a similar one from Bocton, Norfolk (Anglia), bearing the same mark. It is probably relevant to mention here a reliquary pendant from Great Smeaton, with the “MR” monogram (fig. 2/2), or the stained glass window from the medieval catholic cathedral of Coventy, where we can also see the “M” monogram.
The rings bearing the monograms “M”, “MR” and “MARIA” are related to the Cult of the Virgin Mary, which was widely spread across medieval Europe. They are found mainly in a Catholic environment, but not exclusively, being present also in an orthodox one. The bearers of such rings could have been ordinary people, but also high ranked and important members of the community (like the Moldavian Boyar Giulea for instance).
Conclusions
Considering the number of such known discoveries, the rings bearing a mark related to the Cult of the Virgin Mary are fairly few, when compared to the extremely high number of more common medieval rings. We know today that these rings were to be found on a vast range, from Moldavia to the British Isles, an area larger than previously considered.
The concentration of Central European artifacts in Hungary, Romania and Serbia can reflect just a stage of research, but we should also consider that the Gothic art influence in this region is significant. The striking resemblance between some of these rings may suggest a commune workshop, but can also infer artisanal imitation after few originals.
The making of such rings is probably the result of different fashion trends from a broad area merged together, in a Medieval Europe found at its grandest expression. The marks on the bezels survived through time. Even today the monograms associated with the Cult of the Virgin Mary are the most popular logos in the Western Catholic circles.
Through its M marking the ring represented for his bearer a way of expressing distinction and social status, and, by using the signet as a seal the ring became a symbol of power.
The Devotional Ring from Vinerea and the Virgin Mary Monogram Rings in the Middle Age.
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The Devotional Ring from Vinerea and the Virgin Mary Monogram Rings in the Middle Age.
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Autori:
CRISTIAN IOAN
POPA
Rezumat
For several reasons one category of Middle Age rings was never introduced in a typological study until now; we are talking here about Virgin Mary monogram rings. The circumstances of this approach are given by a unique silver ring with monogram “M” that comes from a medieval hoard found in Vinerea (today incorporated in Cugir, Romania), in 1965. Thus, the aim of this paper is to connect this artifact with other similar ring symbols that might depict identical or related monograms. Except for the ring from Balatonszabadi, which is made out of bronze, all the artifacts discussed here are made out of silver.
Typology
Type A
In this category I clustered all the ring bezels where the Gothic uppercase “M” is engraved individually, surrounded by purely decorative elements designed to fill the gap in the disc ring. The bezels in this case are always circular.
Subtype A1. In this category are the rings on whose bezels was engraved the “M” monogram in its “classic” style: Vinerea (fig. 1/1), Arača (M 80) (fig. 1/2).
Subtype A2. Groups together the Gothic rings with the ends of capitalized “M” engraved in the form of volutes. It is important to mark one subtype A1: Rădăuţi (Fig. 1/3), Baia (tomb) (fig. 1/5). Also in this subtype we have included the signet ring of boyar Giulea, issued in Moldova in 1387 (fig. 1/6).
Subtype A3. Includes several rings (fig. 1/7-10), whose monogram on the bezel is a stylized gothic capital letter “M” placed in the middle of some adjacent triangles, related or not to the central point: Sălişte (fig. 1/7), Arača (fig. 1/8) and Négyszállás (fig. 1/9-10).
Type B
In this category we included four rings whose monogram consists in the capital letter “M” in ligature with other letters. Most rings of this type (Baia, Arača) have circular bezels, but there is also a ring with a hexagonal plate (Balatonszabadi).
Subtype B1. Includes circular bezel rings, with monogram “MR”: Baia (fig. 1/11), Arača (fig. 1/12-13). Concerning the rings from Arača and Baia, next to the “R” is engraved a plant with three leafs, in a lying pose.
Subtype B2. In this category we include the hexagonal seal-ring from Balatonszabadi (fig. 1/14 = pl. 1/2), which contains the monogram “MARIA” in ligature. Here also we have a plant next to “R” letter, but with five petals instead.
Type C
In this category we include one ring found at Négyszállás cemetery (Hungary). The artifact has a circular disc, but differs from types A and B by the presence of an inscription on the bezel (SABODEYCHI - Szabó Decsi) framing the Gothic monogram “M” (fig. 1/15).
Background and chronology
Most of the rings discussed here were found in a funerary context: such as the discoveries from Rădăuţi, one ring from Baia, all the rings from Arača and Négyszállás. The Balatonszabadi ring was also found in similar circumstance. From different types of contexts are the rings from Vinerea (hoard), the second ring from Baia (a pavement) and Sălişte (church no. 3). The contexts of their discovery enable a reliable dating of the artifacts.
The rings from Moldavia have a close chronology: namely the first half of the XVth century. The stamp of boyar Giulea, who was moved from Maramureş in Moldavia, can be found on a document from 1387. The two rings from Transylvania can be probably placed in the XVth century, as well as the rings from Arača cemetery. We have a similar situation in the case of the rings from Hungary, at Négyszállás, all found in a funerary context (cemetery no. I, 241, 297). The SABODEYCHI engraving ring belongs to the XVth century. Considering these facts and our typology, we can infer that the type C is the earliest one, followed by type A and B.
These kinds of artifacts can also be found in Western Europe. We can list here an Italian ring with an “M” monogram preserved at British Museum, (fig. 2/1) and a similar one from Bocton, Norfolk (Anglia), bearing the same mark. It is probably relevant to mention here a reliquary pendant from Great Smeaton, with the “MR” monogram (fig. 2/2), or the stained glass window from the medieval catholic cathedral of Coventy, where we can also see the “M” monogram.
The rings bearing the monograms “M”, “MR” and “MARIA” are related to the Cult of the Virgin Mary, which was widely spread across medieval Europe. They are found mainly in a Catholic environment, but not exclusively, being present also in an orthodox one. The bearers of such rings could have been ordinary people, but also high ranked and important members of the community (like the Moldavian Boyar Giulea for instance).
Conclusions
Considering the number of such known discoveries, the rings bearing a mark related to the Cult of the Virgin Mary are fairly few, when compared to the extremely high number of more common medieval rings. We know today that these rings were to be found on a vast range, from Moldavia to the British Isles, an area larger than previously considered.
The concentration of Central European artifacts in Hungary, Romania and Serbia can reflect just a stage of research, but we should also consider that the Gothic art influence in this region is significant. The striking resemblance between some of these rings may suggest a commune workshop, but can also infer artisanal imitation after few originals.
The making of such rings is probably the result of different fashion trends from a broad area merged together, in a Medieval Europe found at its grandest expression. The marks on the bezels survived through time. Even today the monograms associated with the Cult of the Virgin Mary are the most popular logos in the Western Catholic circles.
Through its M marking the ring represented for his bearer a way of expressing distinction and social status, and, by using the signet as a seal the ring became a symbol of power.
Cuvinte cheie:
rings, monograms, Vergin Mary cult, Vergin Mary, Middle Age
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