Mastery of Design: An Annular Brooch, 13th C.

Annular Brooch
Gold, Rubies, Sapphires
Thirteenth Century, France
The British Museum

This late medieval brooch (Thirteenth Century) was made in France. Crafted of gold, ruby and sapphire, the brooch features punched decoration and enameling. It is inscribed:


IO SUI ICI EN LIU DAMI: AMO 
(I am here in the place of the friend I love)

This was the sort of jewelry which was exchanged between lovers in the Thirteenth Century. These jewels—brooches, or rings, mostly—were inscribed with sentimental sayings or “posies.” Brooches, like this one, were annular—in the shape of a ring—to show the eternity of the sentiment. 

This example was bequeathed to the British Museum by Sir Augustus Wollaston Franks in 1897.