Rights Holder: Birmingham Museums Trust
CC License: 
Image use policy
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
FINGER RING
Unique ID: WAW-9782D7
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
Description: A gold medieval finger-ring consisting of a simple undecorated wire hoop, an oval bezel and small shoulders. The hoop, which is misshapen and elongated into an irregular oval, has a sub-oval section which is slightly flattened on the interior edge. The bezel, which is integral to the hoop is oval in plan and forms a high-relief cell within which is set in a domed oval red/dark orange setting. This setting, off-centre, has a gold stud as decoration, whose head is shaped to be flush with the setting. The setting is slightly chipped around the gold stud. The collars are small rectangles which are undecorated. The finger ring measures 25.86mm long across the hoop, 14.05mm wide across the hoop and 6.07mm thick at the bezel. It weighs 2.7g.
Discussion: For comparison see TAR 2002, fig 86 from Olbbury Wells, Shropshire (2002 T122) which is dated late 12th - early 13th century. Also British Museum collections, AF.1819, for a comparable ring dated 13th -14th century. Egan and Pritchard (Egan and Pritchard 2002 Dress Accessories Boydell Press) illustrate two similar finger rings, Nos. 1613 and 1614, and date them to second half of the 14th century.
Notes:
In conclusion the find contains a minimum of 10% precious metal and pre dates 1712. It therefore qualifies as Treasure under the stipulations of the Treasure Act (1996) in terms of precious metal content and age.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder after being disclaimed as Treasure
Treasure details
Treasure case tracking number: 2012T331
Chronology
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Early
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Early
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1300
Date to: Circa AD 1400
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 25.86 mm
Width: 14.05 mm
Thickness: 6.07 mm
Weight: 2.7 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Tuesday 20th March 2012
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference numbers
Treasure case number: 2012T331
Materials and construction
Primary material: Gold
Secondary material: Glass
Completeness: Complete
Spatial data
No spatial data available.
References cited
No references cited so far.
Similar objects
Find number: WAW-CB7241
Object type: FINGER RING
Broadperiod: MEDIEVAL
A gold Medieval finger-ring consisting of a simple undecorated hoop, an oval bezel and small shoulders. The hoop has a sub-oval section which…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: KENT-D6A961
Object type: FINGER RING
Broadperiod: MEDIEVAL
A medieval gold finger-ring dating to the c.14th century.
Description: The oval bezel is conical in profile, and is formed of two sectio…
Workflow: Published
Find number: OXON-7C4144
Object type: FINGER RING
Broadperiod: MEDIEVAL
Description: A fragment from a medieval gold finger ring consisting only of the bezel and the stone it held. The biconical bezel is oval…
Workflow: Published
Timeline of associated dates
About Us
About our Site
Find us
The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG.
T: +44(0) 20 73238618