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FINGER RING
Unique ID: ESS-5ACE64
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
Late 17th or early 18th century gold mourning ring. The hoop is of D-shaped section. The exterior is engraved with a stylised skull flanked by triangular panels and cross-hatching within borders extending around the hoop. Both the skull and cross-hatching retain a substantial amount of black enamel. The interior is engraved with Roman capitals: M M, which retain small traces of black enamel. This inscription is likely to be an abbreviation of 'memento mori', rather than an individual's initials.The ring has an external diameter of 20 mm, the hoop is 4 mmwide and it weighs 3.3 grams. This is a characteristic type of mourning ring. A comparable example in the British Museum with cross-hatching restricted to triangular panels flanking the skull is dated 1691 (O. M. Dalton, catalogue of Finger-rings in the British Museum (London, 1912), cat. no. 1474), and further rings bearing representations of skulls (Dalton 1462-1482) date from the 1660s to the 1730s; in two of these the skull retains black enamel (Dalton 1471-1472).
Notes:
This object was reported under the stipulations of the Treasure Act and officially declared Treasure at inquest. The acquiring museum subsequently withdrew their interest and the object was returned to the finder.
Inscription:
M M
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Declared Treasure but returned to Finder as Museum unable to acquire
Treasure details
Treasure case tracking number: 2004T363
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Middle
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Late
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: AD 1675
Date to: AD 1725
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Width: 4 mm
Weight: 3.3 g
Diameter: 20 mm
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Wednesday 15th September 2004
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: 2004 T363
Treasure case number: 2004T363
Materials and construction
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dalton, O.M. | 1912 | Catalogue of the Finger Rings in the British Museum: Early Christian, Byzantine, Teutonic, Medieval and Later | British Museum | 1462-1482 |
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Timeline of associated dates
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