Ring Dextrarum Iunctio, Gold 375

Dextrarum Iunctio, Ring with Clasped Hands

Handcrafted from solid gold 375 / 8 ct. supplied with certificate.

This kind of ring with an image of shaking hands is called dextrarum iunctio, the "joined rights". Original finds drived from the age of the Roman Empire, but also of the early and late Middle Ages. The meaning is the same, the ring symbolizes loyalty and closeness.
In the roman era, the clasp of the right hands was used to conclude a marriage, in the same way like the modern "yes" in front of the altar. This moment is often depicted on roman monuments or sarcophagi (see pictures).

In the Middle Ages, the term "Handtruwe" emerges, translated hand-faith. It means an object, which symbolizes the love and the unity of two humans, maybe a ring or a brooch. The Handtruwe can be used for engagements, between husband and wife or even between parents and children.

From Italian comes the modern term "mani in fede", which can be translated as "hands in love and fidelity". "Fede" basically means a promise of love. Especially since the Renaissance, these feather rings have been used as engagement rings, their popularity only ending in the late 19th century. A well-known representative is, for example, the Claddagh ring from Ireland, whose form probably dates back to the 16th century.