MEDIEVAL FINGER RING

1450

A late Medieval finger-ring formed of a flat band with a heart-shaped bezel. The bezel is grooved and into the central groove is engraved a letter, probably a crowned R, though the engraving is very rudimentary. The band is decorated with a series of diapered lozenges alternating with flowers. The ring is silver-gilt and dates from the late fifteenth or early sixteenth centuries. Consequently, in terms of age and as the object contains a minimum of 10% precious metal it qualifies as Treasure under the stipulations of the Treasure Act 1996 (J. P. Robinson, Curator of Medieval Collections, 24th March 2005).The ring has been squashed into an oval shape. The bezel has been cast separately from the hoop, the two ends of which adjoin behind the bezel. Dimensions: bezel - 9.82mm by 9.35mm, hoop - 5.10mm wide and 1.17mm thick. Weight 2.4g.