MEDIEVAL FINGER RING

1450

Gold finger-ring with circular collet, in the form of a quatrefoil, set with a turquoise cabochon. The narrow hoop of flattened D-section is decorated at the shoulders with foliar motifs and with inlaid dark blue enamel at the terminals. The collet can be compared with that of a ring from Newball, Lincolnshire, which was dated to the late 15th or early 16th century. (Treasure Annual Report 2003, 108, no. 194). It is also similar to a ring shown on the left hand of Thomas Cromwell in a portrait painted by Holbein in 1534-5 (Oman 1974, 96, plate 23 A). Late 15th - early 16th century. Internal diameter 18mm. External diameter 19.5mm. Maximum width 22mm. Weight 2.67g.Author: Dr. Andrew Rogerson