Medieval and Early Modern Finger Rings from Christian and Jewish Contexts

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.

Title: Rings of Byzantine Officials and Dignitaries
Author: Antje Bosselmann-Ruickbie

Title: Rings as bearers of memory
Author: Romina Ebenhöch

Title: Bishops' rings in the Middle Ages
Author: Vera Henkelmann

Title: Medieval Jewish Signet Rings
Author: Andreas Lehnertz

Title: Jewish wedding rings in the Middle Ages
Author: Maria Stürzebecher

Title: Rings with Heraldic Motifs from the Wiener Neustadt Treasure - Imitations of Medieval Signet Rings?
Authors: Nikolaus Hofer
Affiliation: Bundesdenkmalamt

Title: olden Rings from the Medieval Jewish Cemetery in Bolgogna - Pure Jewellery or Ritual Objects?
Authors: Valentina Di Stefano and Maria Stürzebecher
Affiliation: N