Antique jewelry glossary

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Pontifical ring

A type of finger ring worn by a bishop on the fourth finger of his right hand, when celebrating the Mass. Such rings were large (being worn over a glove) and were ornately decorated with several gemstones. The earliest extant ring of this type dates from, c. 1255; another early example is the founder's ring. A bishop might have several such rings, other than a bishop, were those with offices at the Papal court.

From: An Illustrated Dictionary of Jewelry, autor: Harold Newman, publishers: Thames and Hudson