Signet ring worn by Tom Selleck on Magnum P.I.

Description:

Signet ring worn by Tom Selleck in the role of Thomas Sullivan Magnum on the television series Magnum P.I. The ring is gold, with a gold Cross of Lorraine (double barred cross) inlaid on a black oval field. On the series, this ring was worn by members of Magnum's "Vietnam Team," a multi-service joint task force comprised of U.S. Navy SEALS and Marine Special Operations forces. The Cross of Lorraine was a symbol used by the French resistence during World War II, and is featured in many film and television depictions of the French resistance including the 1942 film Casablanca.

The crime drama series Magnum P.I. aired on CBS from 1980-1988, and followed the titular private investigator's detective work on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Magnum was a veteran of the United States Navy who served as a Navy SEAL and intelligence officer during the Vietnam War, and the series was lauded for its depiction of Vietnam veterans' successful post-war careers and lives. Selleck won the 1984 Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his portrayal of Magnum, and the show was a popular success, regularly ranking in the top twenty programs on television in the United States during its run.

Date Made: 1980sDate Made: ca 1980

User: Selleck, Tom

General Subject Association: TelevisionTelevision

Subject:

See more items in: Culture and the Arts: Entertainment, Popular Entertainment

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: Gift of Tom Selleck and Universal Pictures

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: 1988.0409.04Accession Number: 1988.0409Catalog Number: 1988.0409.04

Object Name: ring

Physical Description: black (overall color)gold (overall color)metal, gold (overall material)oval (overall shape)Measurements: overall: 7/8 in; x 2.2225 cm

Guid: https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a4-ef32-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_683484

Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.

If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.