MEDIEVAL FINGER RING

1200

A medieval silver finger-ring, the decoration imitating the form of a miniature leather belt or strap. The hoop of the ring is a formed from a flat strip of silver, onto which is soldered an additional decorative strip of silver, of equal width, giving the appearance of the end of a belt. One end of the decorative strip is raised, to suggest a buckle, and the other is cut to a point, implying the end of a leather belt. The surface of the applied strip is engraved with cross-hatched decoration, now worn, and the shoulders of the hoop are engraved with foliate decoration, also worn. The join at the back of the hoop has split, resulting in a break in the hoop.