Rights Holder: Northamptonshire County Council
CC License: 
Image use policy
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
FINGER RING
Unique ID: NARC-A987F6
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A complete lead or lead-alloy Ring of late medieval to post-medieval date (AD 1500-1725). The object is a decade, or rosary, finger ring. The loop of the ring is decorated with ten rectangular knops with a large domed, rectangular bezel at the top. The bezel has a shallow engraving of a cross at its centre. The loop has been distorted but the ring is otherwise complete.
Length: 33.07mm, Width: 24.55mm, Thickness: 5.21mm, Weight: 20.0g.
The metal is light cream in colour with a slightly pitted patina.
Decade, or rosary, rings were most abundant during the period when recusant Roman Catholics where heavily penalised by the law. Decade rings were widely used in Lancashire, Yorkshire and Cumbria as a discreet way to maintain fidelity with their chosen form of worship. Probably dates from c1500 to c1725 AD.
Similar objects can be seen on the Portable Antiquities Scheme database: LANCUM-94FF31, WMID-08B476, NLM-1CD468, LANCUM-7FD8A4 (all 4 lead or lead alloy), WAW-102234 (with a clear glass inset), DUR-1B73E3, LANCUM-CE9AE3 (all 3 copper alloy), WAW-CB51A1 (silver), and YORYM-07E2C3 (gold).
The decade ring takes its name from the fact that it has ten knobs to help in counting prayers, similar to (but more discreet than) a rosary - hence its alternative name. Rosaries were forbidden in England and Wales by a statute of 1571, but the act does not mention decade rings. They continued to be made until at least the 18th century for use by recusant Roman Catholics.
Class: decade
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Late
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1500
Date to: Circa AD 1725
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 33.07 mm
Width: 24.55 mm
Thickness: 5.21 mm
Weight: 20 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 5th September 2021
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Materials and construction
Primary material: Lead
Manufacture method: Cast
Decoration style: Geometric
Completeness: Complete
Surface Treatment: Incised or engraved or chased
Spatial metadata
Region: West Midlands (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Warwickshire (County)
District: Warwick (District)
Parish or ward: Rowington (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SP2169
Four figure Latitude: 52.31870542
Four figure longitude: -1.69334141
1:25K map: SP2169
1:10K map: SP26NW
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
Similar objects
Find number: LANCUM-94FF31
Object type: FINGER RING
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
Post Medieval lead alloy decade, or rosary, finger ring. The loop of the ring is decorated with ten knops with a large bezel at the top. The b…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: DUR-36116F
Object type: FINGER RING
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
A complete, lead cast, rosary ring of the post-medieval period (AD1500-1725).
The object consists of a slightly misshapen ring with ten knobs…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: LANCUM-7FD8A4
Object type: FINGER RING
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
Post medieval lead alloy decade, or rosary, finger ring. Probably dates from c1500 to c1725 AD. The bezel of the ring has no visible engraving…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
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