POST MEDIEVAL FINGER RING

1600

Cast copper alloy finger ring with the hoop in the form of a belt strap and buckle. The miniature belt buckle is at one end of the hoop, and the belt strap runs through the buckle with two circular knops, one representing the pin, and a transverse ridge, like a miniature belt stud, on this end of the strap. This end of the strap then sits proud of the rest of the hoop, about 2 mm above it; the bare end of the strap then overlaps the round at a slight angle. The buckle is a single loop with a recessed outer edge. The strap itself has a relief inscription in roman lettering: MATER+DEI+MANTE with quatrefoils as stops between the words. This translates as 'Mother of God stay with me' (Laura Burnett and Mary Siraut pers comm). See a similar example on the database (LON-C48970) where the inscription also reads: MATER . DEI . MAMTE.Belt shaped rings date from the post medieval to modern period, but the styling and wear of this example suggests it is 17th century. It is similar to another example on this database (DOR-9B2121) which is dated to the 17th century due to its inscription: VNO DIEV: VNO ROY: VNE FOY: V. The language of the inscription is derived from French and translates as: One God: One King: One Faith. Geoff Egan commented that although rings such as these are common from the 17th century to the present day, the dog French inscription may have Royalist Civil War-period associations dating this to the mid 17th century (c. 1642 - 1649).