The Rosenberg tomb was shrouded in mystery for over 400 years. The last member of the house, Petr Vok, died in 1611 and was buried next to his wife in the Cistercian monastery in Vyšší Brod. For years it was believed that the tomb was reserved for them alone, but a probe lowered into the crypt in 2011 showed that it was much larger and deeper than originally thought and was without a doubt the final resting place of the entire clan.
The crypt beneath the monastery remains sealed and untouched to this day, but thanks to cutting-edge technology, including geological radar, researchers have been able to create a complete map of the site and its forgotten interiors.
What caused a media stir and captured people’s imagination at the time was the discovery of a gold ring on Petr Vok’s coffin. The Renaissance wedding ring was a twin ring, also called a gimmel ring, which was popular in the 16th century. The crown of the ring is not symmetrical and shows only half a symbol – and only when the twin rings come together can you see the whole thing. Experts are sure that this ring belonged to Petr Vok’s wife Kateřina of Ludanice, who married him when she was just 14 years old.
They believe that the ring fell from her hand onto her husband’s coffin when the side of her coffin, which was slightly above his, rotted away. By a strange coincidence, the twin ring fell almost exactly on the spot where Petr Vok’s hand rests with the second twin ring.
Experts created a 3D scan of the ring and goldsmiths spent months creating a perfect replica of the twin rings from authentic materials.
Geoinformatician Jiří Šindelář says it was a complicated process.
“We placed great emphasis not only on preserving the design but also on using materials that were used at the time. Both rings are made of 14-carat gold – one is decorated with green emeralds, the other with red rubies from Ceylon. Other surviving twin rings from collections around the world helped the experts determine the color combinations of the stones. However, as far as the shape of the rings is concerned, nothing similar has been discovered anywhere else. So these twin rings are truly unique.”
Justin Berka, prior of the Cistercian monastery, says the monastery is proud to be able to exhibit a tangible piece of Rosenberg history.
“The rings are 450 years old, but still have a timeless design. They reflect the culture of the Rosenbergs, their passion for art, their social status and are also a symbol of the bond between Katerina and Petr.”
Until the end of September, visitors to the monastery in Vyšší Brod can view replicas of the Rosenberg family’s twin wedding rings.
