FINGER RING

Post medieval gilded copper alloy signet ring with separate attached bezel, probably of mid to late 16th century date.

The ring has a large hoop which is D-shaped in section with a flat inner side and convex outer. The hoop is even in thickness throughout but slightly narrowed at the back. It is decorated on the outer side with incised plain lines running close to and paralleling the edgs which run all the way around the hoop. Between these lines, on the sides of the hoop, are crossing diagonal incised lines forming three central lozenge shaped panels flanked by three pairs of traingular panels. The back of the hoop is plain apart form the lines at the edges. Each panel on the sides has a plain border then an incised line creating an inner line border and containing an angular four petalled flower. The triangular panels each show only half a flower. The flowers have lozenge shaped petals with triangular indents between each petal and an incised circular centre from which radiates short incised lines. The flowers are worn and not complete on most of the panels. The hoop is 3.4mm thick by 7.1mm wide at the back, 8.3mm wide by the bezel and 26.7mm wide by 24.6mm tall externally.

The thick separate bezel is attached to the front of the hoop, overlapping some of the decoration. It is an elaborated rectangle with slightly concave sides and the top and bottom edges shaped into rectangular projections flanking a semi-circular projection in the centre with indents between the projections. On the front is an indented grained (ropework) broder containing a plain line border both following the outline of the bezel. Within these borders is an indented shield with a square top and straight sides becoming convex at the base and meeting in a point. Between the shield and the border where there are gaps at the top and lower corners there are indented curved lines, probably foliate. Within the indented shield are indented reversed initials RB with an indented line between them. The line loops at the top and probably represents a knotted rope. The bezel is 14.4mm long by 11.4mm wide and 2.2mm thick.

Extensive traces of gilding survives, particularly in the indented sections. It weighs 9.81 grams.

The signet ring is unusually large, possibly to be worn over a glove. The use of a separate bezel is also less usual than integral bezels although known from this period. The style of the signet with two initials linked by a rope became popular by the middle of the sixteenth centre (Oman 1974:31). Oman illustrates two similarly large signet rings with decorated hoops and separate shield shaped bezels (ibid plate 42 no.D and E) which he dates to the early 16th century, both have heraldic crests flanked by initials and are in gold. HAMP-174CF2 on this database is a similarly large gilded copper alloy signet ring with rope-tied pair of initials and decorated hoop although it has a more conventional integral bezel and widening shoulders.