This weekend we took a trip to the tippy top of Manhattan to visit Treasures and Talismans: Rings from the Griffith Collection at the Cloisters.
Rings of every shape and size, dating from ancient Rome to the Renaissance were resting in cases between paintings and precious vessels relevant to the jeweler’s art. Our favorites were the pieces that held some symbolic or sentimental meaning.
There were lots of posey rings engraved with secret love poems sweet and strange...
... and elaborate betrothal rings that put modern solitaire settings to shame.
We saw opulent ecclesiastical rings that proclaim one's faith (and wealth) to the world...
...and of course lots of haunting 'memento mori' rings to remind us all that we are slowly turning in to skeletons.
The exhibit is on view through October 18th, so plenty of time to get to the Cloisters and pick out your own favorites!