Iconographic Ring with St. Catherine of Alexandria inscribed “en bon core”
, England, 15th century
Iconographic Ring with St. Catherine of Alexandria inscribed “en bon core”
Description
Iconographic ring showing on its rectangular bezel a clearly incised engraving of St. Catherine of Alexandria, crowned, facing left, holding her sword of martyrdom in her right hand and her wheel in her left hand upon a cluster of voluminous drapery. Written in clear Gothic letters on the outer fluted band, flat on the interior, interspersed with floral motifs is “en bon core” (in good heart).
Provenance:
Found in Downe Village, Kent, accompanied by a letter from the British Museum to the then-owners, Mr. and Mrs. Maggs.
Literature:
Iconographic rings are typically British, and the term was coined by Victorian collectors. They were worn by both men and women for their devotional, as well as talismanic qualities. A recent study has analysed the relationship between image and prayer and compared the wearing of iconographic rings with the medieval Book of Hours. The owner of the ring would have touched and rubbed the images of the saints whilst praying, seeking help and protection. Iconographic rings were originally enamelled. However, the enamel rarely survives, and many of the surfaces have become indistinct, probably through frequent touch in hope and prayer. See: Sandra Hindman, “Medieval Iconographic Rings: Constructing a Cultural Context,” Codex Aquilarensis 37 (2021), pp. 485-502.
The saints chosen on the ring would have been personal to the wearer, either as patron saint, or invoking help against worldly and spiritual dangers, such as natural disasters, protection against illness, and for good fortune. Saint Catherine, a virgin martyr, became an emblem of modesty and purity and was venerated to ease childbirth. According to legend, St Catherine was believed to be a Christian convert of noble birth, and the Roman Emperor is said to have sent fifty philosophers to convince her to abandon her faith. Instead, they converted to Christianity. The wheel is a symbol of the saint’s method of torture which she miraculously survived, before being beheaded. Since the ninth century she has been venerated in Saint Catherine’s Monastery on Mount Sinai, where her body was believed to have been carried by angels.
Catherine is the most popular of female saints to appear on iconographic rings; our database records thirty-one occurrences on rings of quite different designs. Closest in composition to the present ring are British Museum AF911 and AF912, BM 1900 0612.1. A ring with a similar fluted band is Victoria and Albert Museum inv. 692.1871. “En bon cor” and variants of this inscription occur on St. Catherine and other iconographic rings (see Hindman 2021).