FINGER RING

A complete Medieval to post-Medieval cast copper-alloy signet finger-ring of the late 15th century or16th century (c. 1450-c. 1600).

The bezel of the ring is oval (13.9mm x 19.8mm) and is integral to the hoop of the ring. It is decorated with a grooved line around the edge of the bezel, within which is deeply engraved the letter W. The W is the right way up when the ring is held with the hoop set vertically. The space above the W is filled with an engraved sprig or branch, and there is another smaller branch to either side of the letter. The shoulders and hoop are flat on the outside and slightly convex on the inside.

The ring has a well developed dark brown patina, although it is severely pitted and decayed in some areas due to bronze disease. Maximum diameter: 26.9mm; width of bezel: 9.8mm. The thickness of the bezel is 3.7mm and the minimum thickness of the hoop, at its base, is 2.3mm. Weight: 6.93g.

Several examples of this type of signet ring, with various letters (including W) on the bezel, are in Salisbury Museum. They have been published by J. Cherry in P. Saunders (ed) 1991, Salisbury & South Wiltshire Museum Medieval Catalogue Part I, pp. 40, 42-3, fig. 12, nos. 17-24. Cherry dates the most similar of these rings (nos. 17-19, nos. 23-24) to the 15th century.