Rare extra wide antique wedding bands from Zeeland in the Southern Netherlands

These extraordinary wide wedding bands are called "tonnenring" (Dutch for barrel ring). A typical regional piece of jewellery from Zeeland, the southern coastal part of the Netherlands, where every village had its own specific type of jewellery. Even more, every religion had its own distinctive differences in wearing and style.

In the county of Walcheren, this ring came into fashion in the second half of the 19th century (1850-1900). A wide gold smooth wedding band, sometimes engraved with a wreath of leaves and the initials of the bride and groom. It was virtually impossible to wear these rings while working, so they were only used to show off when going to church or at holidays and festivals. In pictures from that time, hands were often positioned to ensure all the rings would be visible. Such rings are also described in the book "Streeksieraden in Zeeland" (Dutch for "Regional Jewellery in Zeeland") on page 76.

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Click here to read all about both antique Dutch wedding bands.