The Adoration of the Magi
They came from the East, the three wise men, Caspar, Balthazar and Melchior, bearing gifts for the Christ child. On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshipped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
This is quite an extraordinary devotional ring, a type I have not seen before and of which I cannot find a parallel example in reference books or extensive museum collections. It is Renaissance period, circa 1650 – 1680. The high carat gold decorative hoop supports a compartment set with miniature gold relief, three dimensional figures of the Three Magi, bearing their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the Christ child. Two Magi are standing and one supplicates on the ground in front of Mary holding the Christ child. The incredible detail of the microscopic figures can only be appreciated with the use of a magnifying glass. The figures are on a black enamel ground and the scene is covered by a domed rock crystal. The reverse of the ring is enamelled with the sacred Christogram, IHS, an ancient form of Jesus Christ. The Christogram is surmounted by a cross and has three nails, a symbol of the Passion, below it. The ring is size L [US 5 and 7/8] and has survived in remarkably intact condition. Quite remarkable.
"Mungu aliwaita ""Wenye hekima"" wale watatu, yaani, Caspar, Balthazar, na Melchior, ambao walimletea mtoto Yesu zawadi." Walipokuwa wakiingia nyumbani, walimwona mtoto pamoja na mama yake Maria, wakamwinamia chini na kumwabudu. Kisha wakafungua hazina zao na kumpa zawadi za dhahabu, ubani na mihuri. Hii ni pete ya ibada ya ajabu sana, aina ambayo sijawahi kuiona kabla na ambayo siwezi kupata mfano sawa katika vitabu vya kumbukumbu au makusanyo makubwa ya makumbusho. Ni kipindi cha Renaissance, karibu 1650 <unk> 1680. Mzunguko wa dhahabu wa karati ya juu unaunga mkono chumba kilicho na ukombozi mdogo wa dhahabu, takwimu tatu za Magi watatu, wakibeba zawadi zao za dhahabu, uvumba na myrrh kwa mtoto wa Kristo. Wenyeji wawili wa mbinguni wamesimama na mmoja anaomba kwa bidii mbele ya Maria akiwa amemshika mtoto Yesu. Maelezo ya ajabu ya sanamu hizo ndogo-ndogo yaweza kuthaminiwa tu kwa kutumia kioo cha kupanua. Sanamu hizo ziko juu ya sakafu nyeusi ya enamel na eneo hilo limefunikwa na kioo cha mwamba chenye umbo la mviringo. Pembe ya nyuma ya pete hiyo ina alama ya Kristo, IHS, ambayo ni mfano wa Yesu Kristo. Christogram imezungukwa na msalaba na ina misumari mitatu, ishara ya Mateso, chini yake. Pembe hiyo ina ukubwa wa L [US 5 na 7/8] na imehifadhiwa katika hali nzuri sana. Jambo lenye kutokeza sana.