A Ring to Kiss?
In Three Late-in-Life Studio Portrait Photographs, Emperor Norton Can Be Seen Wearing a Mysterious Ring
Others might have noticed this, but I’ve never seen it written up.
For all of the increasingly elaborate decorations and accoutrements of Emperor Norton’s imperial regalia over the course of his 20-year reign from 1859 to 1880, nearly all of the 20 or so extant photographs of him — including the micro-variations of stereograph photos — show his hands…unadorned.
But, in a c.1878 photograph of Emperor Norton by the studio of Bradley & Rulofson, there is what appears to be large ring — gold (or silver) and onyx? — on the Emperor’s right pinky finger.
Emperor Norton, c. 1878, by Bradley & Rulofson studio. Collection of the California Historical Society.
Here’s the relevant detail:
When I first noticed this, I wondered: Was this ring a gift from admirers — like the famous Serpent Scepter in this photo, presented to the Emperor in 1867 by subjects in Oregon? Or was it a prop supplied by the studio?
:: :: ::
ANOTHER photograph — a couplet of photographs — of Emperor Norton during this same period — taken, I believe, by Hector William Vaughan (c.1827–c.1878) — were published in an unusual vertical format that appeared to show mirror images of the Emperor. I believe the photos were separately staged.
Cabinet card with photographs of Emperor Norton, published between late May and mid June 1879 by Imperial Gallery, 724½ Market Street, San Francisco. Photographs possibly by gallery owner Hector William Vaughan (c.1827–c.1878). Collection of the California Historical Society.
Notice the right pinky finger in the left image. There definitely is a glint that appears to be a ring.
In the right image, the ring appears to have been moved from the pinky finger to the knuckle of the ring finger.
:: :: ::
SO, WERE these rings in the photographs by Bradley & Rulofson and by Vaughan one and the same ring? Or were they different?
Was one, or both, a gift?
If so: Did one, or both, of the rings feature an Emperor Norton insignia or inscription of some kind? This would have been in keeping with gifted walking sticks that were fitted with a ferrule or badge engraved with the Emperor’s name. (See the walking stick in the collection of the California Historical Society here and the one in the collection of the de Young Museum here.)
Was one a Masonic ring — a symbol of Emperor Norton’s membership in Occidental Lodge No. 22 of Free and Accepted Masons? If so, might the Emperor’s wearing it be a clue that at some point he was restored to good standing in the Lodge, having been suspended for non-payment of dues in 1858 or 1859?
No ring was specified in the personal effects found and collected from Emperor Norton’s room when he died in 1880; conveyed to the Society of California Pioneers for safekeeping; and later lost in the earthquake and fires of 1906.
Was the Emperor buried with one of these rings?
:: :: ::
For an archive of all of the Trust’s blog posts and a complete listing of search tags, please click here.
Search our blog...