FINGER RING

An incomplete copper alloy signet finger ring, of Late Medieval to Early Post Medieval dating (c. AD 1550 to c. AD 1650).

The ring is missing the decorative parts of the bezel, the enamel and gem stones, these are presumed lost in antiquity. The hoop is complete.

The bezel is sub oval in plan. The bezel is split into three sections, a central rectangular section with a small hole in the center, which could have housed a gem or bead. Flanking this rectangular section are two D shaped depressions, enamel possibly sat in these depressions, these items presumably lost in antiquity. The shoulders are straight and taper straight into the hoop. The shoulders are decorated with incized lines creating triangles on two equally spaced horizontal lines. The hoop is sub oval in section. The reverse of the finger ring is plain and undecorated.

The finger ring measures 21.6 mm in length, 22.0 mm wide and 3.5 mm thick, at the bezel, at the base of the hoop it is 1.25 mm thick. It weighs 4.6 g.

The finger ring is a dark brown colour with an uneven surface patina. Abrasion, caused by movement whilst within the plough soil, has resulted in a loss of some of the original surface detail.

Many similar signet rings have been recorded on the PAS database, including WMID-909766, WMID-54F164 and WMID-FD5D7B.