EARLY MEDIEVAL FINGER RING

800

Treasure case 2009 T448.British Museum report:"Description: Fragment of a finger-ringSilver fragment of a finger-ring missing most of its hoop, with enlarged, oval bezel. Inside its pointed decorative field two bunches of grapes are depicted in shallow relief. Some of the reserved areas contain minute remains of niello.Moulded, transverse ribs adjoin the bezel and the back of the ring is plain. About half of the loop is missing.Discussion: The fragment fits a 9th-century date. Given the popularity of bunches of grapes on sculpture of the early 9th century (Webster and Backhouse 1991, 152f), it might be possible to narrow its date down further.On close examination by Science Section it appeared that the ring had possibly been cleaned and repatinated.Non-destructive X-ray fluorescence analysis of the corroded surface of the ring bezel indicated a silver content of 92-97%, with copper and traces of gold and lead.Dr. Sonja Marzinzik, M.A., F.S.A.Curator, Insular Early Medieval CollectionsDepartment of Prehistory and EuropeThe British Museum"