Twin wedding rings of the Rožmberks come together after 423 years

The Cistercian monastery in Vyšší Brod is the final resting place of the Rožmberk clan, one of the richest and mightiest noble families in Bohemia. Thanks to cutting-edge technology experts have been able to view its interior and even produce replicas of the twin wedding rings of Petr Vok and his wife Kateřina.   

Vyšší Brod Monastery|Photo: Magdalena Kašubová, Radio Prague International

The Rožmberk tomb was veiled in mystery for over 400 years. The last member of the house, Petr Vok, died in 1611 and was buried alongside his wife in the Cistercian monastery in Vyšší Brod. For years the tomb was believed to be theirs alone, but a probe lowered into the crypt in 2011 showed that it was much larger and deeper than originally thought, and was without doubt the final resting place of the entire clan.

The crypt beneath the monastery remains sealed and untouched to this day but cutting-edge technology, including a geological radar, has enabled researchers to produce a full layout of the grounds and its forgotten interiors.

Petr Vok|Photo: Wikimedia Commons, public domain

What caused a media stir and fired people’s imagination at the time was the discovery of a gold ring on Petr Vok’s coffin. The Renaissance-era wedding ring was one of twin rings, also known as a gimmel ring that was popular in the 16th century. The crown of the ring is not symmetrical and shows only half a symbol - and it is only when the twin rings come together that you see the whole. Experts have no doubt that this ring belonged to Petr Vok’s wife Kateřina of Ludanice, who married him when she was just 14.

Their assumption is that the ring fell from her hand onto her husband’s coffin, when the side of her coffin, placed slightly above his, decomposed. By some strange coincidence, the twin ring fell almost exactly on the place where Petr Vok’s hand, with the second twin ring, rests.

Twin wedding rings of the Rožmberks |Photo: Matěj Vodička, Czech Radio

Experts made a 3D scan of the ring and goldsmiths spent months making a perfect replica of the twin rings, created from authentic materials.

Geo-informatics expert Jiří Šindelář says it was a complicated process.

“We took great care to preserve not only the design, but also to use materials that would have been used at the time. Both rings are made of 14 carat gold –one decorated with green emeralds the other with red rubies from Ceylon. Other surviving twin rings from collections around the world helped experts to determine the colour combinations of the stones. But as far as the shape of the rings is concerned, nothing similar has been discovered anywhere else. So these twin rings are really unique.”

Twin wedding rings of the Rožmberks |Photo: Matěj Vodička, Czech Radio

Justin Berka, prior of the Cistercian monastery, says the monastery is proud to be able to display a tangible bit of Rožmberk history.

"The rings are 450 years old, yet they have a timeless design. They reflect the culture of the  Rožmberks, their passion for art, their social standing, and they are also a symbol of the bond between Katerina and Petr."

Visitors to the monastery in Vyšší Brod can view the replicas of the twin Rožmberk wedding rings until the end of September.