Summary
Wedding Ring belonging to Ellen Louise Pfeifer (nee Wendt). She was married in 1908 and died in 1962. At her wedding she also wore a gold hinged bangle. She was married at the Presbyterian Church, probably in St Kilda.
Wedding rings or bands have possibly been in use since Ancient Rome and are associated with numerous customs relating to marriage. Wedding rings are today worn on either the base of the right or the left ring finger, depending on local custom.
Today they are often given as the last item in a series of gifts, which includes the engagement ring. As well as being a visible marker of a person's marital status, wedding rings have strong symbolism, with a European tradition encouraging the engraving of the name of one's intended spouse and the date of one's intended marriage on the inside surface of wedding rings, thus strengthening the symbolism and sentimentality of the rings as they become family heirlooms.
Physical Description
Plain gold wedding ring. Thin. Stamp on inside. No other markings.
More Information
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Cultural Gifts Donation from Mr J. Hearse, 14 Jul 1988
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Acknowledgement
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
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Date Made
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User
Ellen L. Pfeifer, Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1908-1962
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Inscriptions
Stamped: 18.
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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overall dimensions
20 mm (Width), 2 mm (Height)
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Exhibition Collection Management
21 mm (Length), 20 mm (Width), 3 mm (Height)
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Keywords
Jewellery, Marriage Customs & Rites, Rings, Rites of Passage, Rituals & Beliefs, Weddings
