Fede

The clasped hands, or fede motif (Italian for ‘faith’), symbolises the marriage union as the joining of hands in a handshake marks the consecration of the marriage ceremony. It is one of the earliest and most enduring of motifs used in jewellery- seen as far back as Ancient Roman times.

Claddagh rings (two hands holding a crowned heart) seen from the Georgian period onwards are the evolved version of these fede rings.