SIGNET RING WITH AN IMAGE OF A LILY FOUND AT THE SHUMEN VICINITY: SIGNET RING WITH AN IMAGE OF A LILY FOUND AT THE SHUMEN VICINITY

Stella Doncheva; Nikolay Nikolov

doi:10.46687/jsar.v26i1.391

Authors

Stella Doncheva Konstantin Preslavsky University of Shumen, Bulgaria
Nikolay Nikolov Konstantin Preslavsky University of Shumen

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46687/jsar.v26i1.391

Keywords:

signet ring, heraldic lily, Mediaeval Bulgaria, metalwork, glass paste

Abstract

The subject of the presented work is a signet ring with an image of a heraldic lily. Only the main sealing part, filled with glass paste, in which the image is engraved, has been preserved from the object. The thin ring soldered to the tile is not preserved. The traces from the solder of the ring to the solder on the reverse side of the board are clearly visible. The latter has an elliptical shape with a scalloped outline and bud-like ornamentation above it. The central part of the object is occupied by a deep socket filled with greenish glass paste, in which the image of the heraldic lily is carved. Rings with images of lilies from the late Middle Ages are a whole group, and therefore this type of decoration can be considered one of the favorites of this period. Most of the ornaments are made entirely of metal, the more famous ones being silver and gold. The symbolic meaning of the lily is a reason for it to appear on various art monuments, such as the portraits of the founders from the church "St. Nicholas" in Stanichane (XIV century), the late medieval belts with appliqués in the shape of lilies from the territory of Bulgaria and many others . In this context, we can also place the current ring with an engraved image of a heraldic lily from the era of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, found in the vicinity of Shumen and the Shumen Fortress, whose most active life was precisely during this period.

Author Biographies

Stella Doncheva, Konstantin Preslavsky University of Shumen, Bulgaria

Konstantin Preslavsky University of Shumen, Bulgaria, e-mail: s.doncheva@shu.bg

Nikolay Nikolov, Konstantin Preslavsky University of Shumen

Konstantin Preslavsky University of Shumen

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SIGNET RING WITH AN IMAGE OF A LILY FOUND AT THE SHUMEN VICINITY