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In MAKING A MATCH Ann Jennalie Cook give a charming short account (pp. 135-36) of the gimmal ring or joint ring (OTHELLO IV.iii.72). At the formal engagement its section were separated with the upper and lower segments going to the future bride and groom. Other circlets were kept by the witnesses, all of the circlets being joined together again at the wedding. Lee Piepho English Department Sweet Briar College On Apr 2, 2005, at 9:34 PM, Joseph Black wrote: > David Cressy, in his monograph _Birth, Marriage, and Death_, notes that > rings were commonly given as courtship presents, and that "further > gifts, > most commonly a ring, changed hands when the couple was contracted or > betrothed" (263). He cites the intriguing-sounding _Loves garland. Or > posies > for rings, hand-kerchers, and gloves; and such pretty tokens that > lovers > send their loves_ (1624). He also cites church court records from York > and > Durham from 1570s to the 1620s as providing "plentiful" evidence for > the > ingredients of espousal ceremonies, including "the ritual exchange of > betrothal rings" (273). > > Sara Mendelson and Patricia Crawford, _Women in Early Modern England_, > also > cite evidence for the exchange of a "gold or gilded" betrothal ring as > part > of a handfasting ceremony (114), with the young woman accepting the > ring > from the man. > > Joseph Black > Department of English > Bartlett Hall 477 > University of Massachusetts > Amherst, MA 01003 > (413) 545-5517 > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "William Oram" <[log in to unmask]> > To: <[log in to unmask]> > Sent: Saturday, April 02, 2005 6:25 PM > Subject: Engagement and Marriage Rings > > >> I'm teaching the Merchant of Venice now and got asked about the >> history >> of engagement rings. Were they given in the Renaissance? If so, was >> it >> usual for the man to give them to the woman? Or is thinking about the >> ring Portia gives Bassanio as something like a modern engagement ring >> simply distorting? (For that matter, since the marriage takes place >> shortly after this scene, should we see it as a marriage ring >> instead? ) >> Does anyone know where I can start? >> Bill Oram >>