Rights Holder: Colchester and Ipswich Museum Service
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Unique ID: ESS-BA4146
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published
Treasure Case: 2011 T756, Medieval finger ring
Date of Discovery: May 2011
Circumstances of discovery: Gardening
Date: Medieval to early Post Medieval: 15th to early 16th Century
Description: Complete, but misshapen, cast silver iconographic ring.
The bezel is expanded from the hoop and has two faces separated by a pronounced rib, giving the bezel a triangular cross section. The faces of the bezel are worn and covered in corrosion products, with detail only visible on one side. An incised human face is just visible, probably part of a standing figure of a saint. The pronounced rib on the bezel extends onto the shoulders, at which point the rib becomes an oblique ridge. This forms part of the over all design of the band, formed of evenly spaced oblique ridges separated by oblique pelleted ridges - there are seven plain ridges and four pelleted ridges. There is also a cinquefoil flower on each shoulder. The inside of the band is plain and undecorated. The band has a shallow 'D' shaped cross section.
The ring is dull, dark grey in colour, with patches of silver showing though. Corrosion products adhere to the surface of the ring.
The bezel 13.75 is mm long, 7.06mm wide, 3.17mm thick. The band is 4.62mm wide, 1.78mm thick and the hoop measures 24.85mm by 20.41mm in its distorted form. It weighs 4.41 grams.
The object contains a minimum of 10% precious metal and is over 300 years old. Consequently it qualifies as Treasure under the stipulations of the Treasure Act 1996 in terms of both age and precious metal content.
Report by: Laura McLean Finds Liaison Officer, Essex Colchester & Ipswich Museum Service November 2011
Class: iconographic
Current location of find: Colchester & Ipswich Museum Service
Subsequent action after recording: Donated to museum by all parties, hence disclaimed as Treasure
Treasure case tracking number: 2011T756
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1400
Date to: Circa AD 1550
Quantity: 1
Length: 24.85 mm
Width: 20.41 mm
Thickness: 1.78 mm
Weight: 4.41 g
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 1st May 2011 - Tuesday 31st May 2011
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Other reference: Colchester OEF 6650
Treasure case number: 2011T756
Primary material: Silver
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
Grid reference source: From a paper map
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
No references cited so far.