FINGER RING

A complete cast copper alloy finger ring, of probable Early Post Medieval dating (16th to 17th Centuries AD).

The finger ring is of the signet ring style, with a raised circular bezel. The shoulders are plain and expand slightly out from the width of the hoop. The hoop is plain and D shaped in cross section.

The device on the shield shaped bezel is hard to determine, it may be more pseudoheraldic in nature than actually heraldic, as it does not appear to conform to standard heraldic traits. The device is uncertain, it appears to be a triangular creature with diagonal stripes. A pelleted border is present around the edge of the bezel.

The finger ring is mostly a dark green colour, with an even surface patina.

The finger ring has a diameter of 23.42mm and the bezel has a diameter of 12.45mm. It weighs 4.2 grams.

The original signet rings were developed back during 13th Century, as a convienent way of carrying around your heraldic seal matrix (form of identity / signature), and continued in use until at least 17th Century AD. However the style did not completely go out of fashion, and pseudoheraldic devices on finger rings can be found from the 18th Century up until the modern period (20th - 21st Centuries AD).

This example, being made from copper alloy and cast, is probably 16th to 17th Centuries in date, but could be of later dating as it has been mentioned that the signet ring style has a very longevity to it.