Since its creation 6,000 years ago, the ring has never gone out of style.
It’s evolved from a momento given out at a funeral service to remind us our mortality, to containers of perfume and locks of hair, to a symbol of devotion to a monarchy.
Renowned ring collector Benjamin Zucker will share his insights on the ring’s staying power today at The Walters Art Museum during his lecture, “A Mysterious Wedding Ring: Tracing Personal Jewelry Histories.”
Zucker will share the story of a Jewish wedding ring from the 17-century he owns and loaned to the Walters Art Museum for its on-going exhibit “Bedazzled: 5,000 Years of Jewelry.”
“For me personally, the idea of viewers, especially children seeing a piece of jewelry in a museum case is wonderful,” Zucker said. “They get that feeling of really looking a treasure.”
On top of Zucker’s ring is a miniature house, representing either Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem or a synagogue, according to the Walters. But the house also symbolizes the future that the bride and groom will create together, which the Torah compares to creating a house. The ring’s enameled roof swings open to reveal the first two letters of Mazel tov, or good luck.
Other selections from Zucker’s impressive private collection are on-display in “Bedazzled.”
The show gives viewers over 200 stunning rings, bracelets, broaches and lesser-known styles of jewelry such as stomachers created from 3,000 B.C. through early 20th century.
Among the many highlights in the exhibit are two gem-laden, boxy gold bracelets worn by first century Greeks; geishas’ sensuous silver hair pins; and a weighty gold-mesh evening bag carried by the wife of Baltimore native and Hecht’s department store founder Alexander Hecht.
The exhibit also showcases a Chinese empress’s headdress decorated with countless pearls and rubies on delicate wires that allowed the gems to vibrate when she walked. The exhibit’s pinnacle piece is Tiffany & Co.’s Iris Corsage made of 139 sapphires, and numerous diamonds and citrines. The brooch claimed the grand prize at the 1900 World’s Fair.
IF YOU GO
A Mysterious Wedding Ring: Tracing Personal Jewelry Histories
» When: 2 p.m. today
» Where: Walters Art Museum
600 N. Charles St., Baltimore
» Admission: Free
» Info: 410-547-9000, ext. 238 or www.thewalters.org
The Walters’ fifth anuual Jewelry Fair at the Walters continues today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission costs $10, which includes entry fee to museum.
