Merovingian-style ring in brass and amazonite. Photo courtesy Rmn-Grand Palais. Handout via The Gourmet Gazette

They were the house that united, essentially, France. The Merovingian dynasty were the ruling family of the Franks in medieval times, ruling from the middle of the 5th century until 751 when they were the Kings of the Franks, and are regarded as the first race of the kings of France. Memorable Merovingians include the pagan king, Childeric I ,who was succeeded by his son Clovis I, who united nearly all of Gaul except for Burgundy and Provence and was converted to Christianity sometime circa 506. His wife was Clotilda, the queen consort, who would convince him to give up the old pagan idols, thus playing a major role in his conversion to Christianity and she would ultimately become Saint Clotilda. A pyramidal bezel ring in gold and emerald from the Merovingian era was found in Jouy-le-Comte in the greater Paris region and dated to the sixth century. Today it sits in the reserves of the Louvre Museum’s Art Objects of the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and modern times although this piece belongs to the collections of the National Archaeology Museum of Saint-Germain-en-Laye. And thanks to the inventive boutiques of the Rmn-Grand Palais, you, too, can be a Merovingian queen with the boutique’s line of Merovingian-style jewelry — a ring, necklace and stud earrings — whose design was inspired by that 6th century ring of the Merovingian era.

The three pieces are crafted in brass and eye-catching blueish green amazonite. This semi-precious ornamental stone was once known as the stone of the Amazons, who according to lore and legend wore it as an amulet to protect themselves from injuries and illnesses. The Rmn-Grand Palais, Rmn is the French acronym for the Réunion des musées nationaux, distributes its own products and those brought out by others in a network of 34 bookshop-boutiques that it manages in French museums as well as on its on-line boutique. The Merovingian-inspired jewels are available at the boutique of the musée du Louvre, on boutique.louvre.fr and on boutiquesdemusees.fr. ©Trish Valicenti for The Gourmet Gazette

See also: https://thegourmetgazette.com/2025/01/05/a-gourmet-gazette-fine-find-an-exceptional-engraving/