Rights Holder: Somerset County Council
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Unique ID: SOMDOR-46E1A1
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published
A 9th century Anglo-Saxon gold ring weighing 1.8g. The loop, which is badly bent, is a thin round-sectioned band, flattened and widening towards the bezel. On the shoulder there is a decoration of minute dots, emphasizing the triangular shape obtained, subdivided into three small triangular fields. The bezel of the ring is round, slightly bent at the lower edge, 1 cm in diameter. The bezel has a double frame: around a plain frame there is a scalloped border, which originally would have been set off by niello.
Notes:
A comparison for this treatment can seen on the ring of Alhstan, 9th- century bishop of Sherborne, now in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Within the plain frame is a standing and backward-looking image of the Agnus Dei. The Lamb is nimbed, and there are three notches on the halo that, when filled with niello, would have displayed the cross. The body of the animal displays notches and marks that are consistent with the so-called Trewhiddle style, and notice in particular the treatment of the tail, a continuation of the 'frame' of the back of the animal. To the left of the animal there is a motif, probably representing the palm of Victory. A well-known ring and much more impressive ring with the Agnus Dei is that of Queen Æthelwith, who married Burgred of Mercia around 853 (see Webster and Backhouse 1991, no. 244), but a simpler one, which compares well with the present one, was found at 'Southend' and shown at the British Museum a few years ago. In both instances the Lamb is haloed and faces forward.
The age of the find, its precious metal content (it contains more than 10% gold) and the fact that there is no traceable owner are the three criteria by which the piece constitutes treasure under the provisions of the Treasure Act of 1996 (Treasure Case 2004 T290).
Dr Anna Gannon, Department of Prehistory and Europe, The British Museum, London, 6th October 2004.
Current location of find: Somerset County Museum, Taunton
Subsequent action after recording: Acquired by museum after being declared Treasure
Treasure case tracking number: 2004T290
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Middle
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Late
Period to: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Ascribed Culture:
Anglo-Saxon style
Date from: Circa AD 800
Date to: AD 900
Quantity: 1
Length: 26.52 mm
Width: 14.11 mm
Thickness: 9.06 mm
Weight: 1.8 g
Date(s) of discovery: Saturday 1st November 2003
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Other reference: Treasure reference 2004 T290
Treasure case number: 2004T290
Museum accession number: TTNCM 223/2005
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Webster, L. and Backhouse, J. | 1991 | The Making of England: Anglo-Saxon Art and Culture AD 600-900 | London | British Museum Press | no. 244 |