FINGER RING

A medieval finger ring set with three stones. The ring has a central oval shaped bezel set with a cabochon setting. An integral, rectangular ridge decorates either side of the bezel. The shoulders of the ring have plain bands and are also set either side of the central bezel with two smaller horizontal red stones, in oval settings. These are also decorated with rectangular ridges either side of the settings. The rest of the band is plain.

Non-destructive X-ray fluorescence analysis of the metal of the finger ring, carried out by the British Museum's Scientific Research section, indicated a surface composition of approximately 96-98% gold, approximately 1% silver, the rest being copper. The central, colourless stone was identified by Raman spectroscopy as corundum (sapphire) and the two red cabochon stones are almandine garnets. The ring weighs 8.69 grams.

The setting of stones on the shoulders are unusual for medieval rings, however the oval shaped setting, flanked by raised rectangular ridges, can be found in ring of date, see for example WAW-797015 (2006 T395). John Cherry has noted a comparable ring with multiple stones on the bezel in the British Museum (1856,0701.20702) which is dated to the 13^th century, see Ward, Cherry, Gere & Cartlidge, The Ring: From Ancient Antiquity to the Twentieth Century (1981), p. 66, no. 133.

The ring dates to the late 12^th or early 13^th century.

Dimensions: Height of central bezel: 12.7mm; width of central bezel: 10.3mm; Depth of central bezel: 5.6mm; Diameter of hoop: 22.6mm