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ESS-7B6234: Medieval signet ring

Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
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Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
CC License:
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Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
CC License:
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FINGER RING

Unique ID: ESS-7B6234

Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow status: Published Find published

Complete 15th century copper alloy signet ring. The ring weighs 10.41g, has an external diameter of 26.46mm and an internal diameter of 21.0mm. The hoop is 4.4mm wide and 4.84mm thick. The bezel of the ring is oval in shape, being 16.54mm long and 11.9mm wide and is integral to the ring, not cast separately. It is decorated with a grooved line around the edge of the bezel, within which is the letter W with branches to either side and a crown above. The letter W reads correctly both ways, but had this been another letter, it would have been shown in negative, so as to appear the right way round once impressed into wax.

The patina of the ring is dark green, with some lighter green patches. Overall it is in good condition and presents itself as a good example of this kind of signet ring. See Cherry in Saunders, 1991, Salisbury & South Wiltshire Museum Medieval Catalogue, figure 12, number 23 for a similar example.

The presence of the crown does not denote a royal connection. These rings were marked with the initial letter of the Christian name of the person who used them. There are many examples of rings with the letter W and examples of seals using this letter in public records.

Class: Signet

Subsequent actions

Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder

Chronology

Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Date from: AD 1400
Date to: AD 1499

Dimensions and weight

Quantity: 1
Weight: 1041 g
Diameter: 26.46 mm

Discovery dates

Date(s) of discovery: Saturday 1st November 2003

Personal details

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Other reference numbers

Other reference: ID 3337

Materials and construction

Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast

Spatial metadata

Region: Eastern (European Region)
County or Unitary authority: Essex (County)
District: Uttlesford (District)
To be known as: Felsted

Spatial coordinates


Grid reference source: From a paper map
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.

Discovery metadata

Method of discovery: Metal detector
General landuse: Cultivated land

References cited

Author Publication Year Title Publication Place Publisher Pages Reference
Saunders, P. 1991 Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum Medieval Catalogue: Part 1 Salisbury Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum fig.12 23

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Find number: IOW-C55272
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A complete Medieval to post-Medieval cast copper-alloy signet finger-ring of the late 15th century or16th century (c. 1450-c. 1600). …
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Timeline of associated dates

Audit data

Recording Institution: ESS
Created: 20 years ago
Updated: 13 years ago

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