MEDIEVAL FINGER RING

1100

A fragment of a medieval finger-ring with part of the hoop missing. The ring is iconographic in form and has a double-facetted bezel engraved with the images of two standing saints. The engraving is remarkably crude in execution and the saints are unidentifiable. The shoulders of the ring are engraved with flowers resembling tulips. All of the original enamelling is lost. Dimensions: diameter 20 mm. Discussion: The finger-ring is silver-gilt and dates from the late fifteenth or early sixteenth century. 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