18th Century Gimmel Fede Ring Italian 1790's
Comprising three mobile rings in 18K rose gold, one with a man's hand, one with a heart and one with a woman's hand. Gross weight: 5.80 gr. Finger size: 7 Romance and love are conveyed to the fullest in this sumptuous ring composed of symbolically rich elements: Fede hands, connected bands and hearth. Each element of this ring expresses love and affection, as well as the union of marriage. The clasped hands or ‘mani in fede’, is a motif derived from the Roman ritual of the joining of the right hands during the betrothal ceremony known as dextrarum iunctio. Messages of romantic love on jewelry, and mottoes or inscriptions on plain gold bands go back to the Middle Ages. Beginning in the thirteenth century, ring brooches and rings were given as love tokens and the language of love was expressed in words and amatory motifs. Each element of this ring expresses love and affection, as well as the union of marriage. The clasped hands or ‘mani in fede’ (Italian term for hands in faith), is a motif derived from the Roman ritual of the joining of the right hands during the betrothal ceremony known as dextrarum iunctio. The right hand was considered to be sacred to Fides, the goddess of trust and good faith. The clasped hands as a symbol of love and marriage has continued in both the ceremony and rings through the centuries
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