Wedding Ring in the Form of a Synagogue
| Culture | Central European |
|---|---|
| Title | Wedding Ring in the Form of a Synagogue |
| Date | Ca. 1700 |
| Medium | Silver |
| Dimensions | Overall: 1 3/4 x 1 x 9/16 in. (4.4 x 2.5 x 1.4 cm) |
| Credit Line | Gift of Frederick Stafford, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University |
| Accession Number | 59.54 |
| This artwork is currently on view. | |
A ring in the form of a synagogue with peaked roof, windows, dormer, a porch, and a chimney. A menorah can be seen in the interior. The ring is made of silver that has tarnished with age.
Rings shaped like synagogues—symbolizing the sacredness of marriage and family in Jewish religious life—were used in Jewish weddings in central Europe from the late Middle Ages through the eighteenth century. Like many Jewish ritual objects, these rings were passed down in families or even owned collectively by the community. Some time after its fabrication, the Hebrew letters "Kaf" and "Hay," perhaps the initials of a betrothed couple, were roughly incised on the band of the ring .
Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.
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"Wedding Ring in the Form of a Synagogue | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=59.54