Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
CC License:
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Unique ID: DENO-5FA2D0
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published
TREASURE CASE 2014 T329:
A complete gold Post Medieval posy ring dating from the 18th century.
The finger ring is circular in plan and D-shaped in section. The outside face of the ring is decorated with a foliate design of scrolled leaves and tendrils. There are very slight traces of a pale blue coloured enamel within the design.
The interior of the ring has an inscription which reads "Your frend till death". At the end of this inscription there is a maker's mark of a letter 'C' within a square punch.
Notes:
With regard to similar finger ring holdings at the British Museum Judy Rudoe comments that "it is similar to the foliate decoration on a group of mourning rings, mostly with the original enamel: AF 1547-1553, all of which date to between 1720 and 1732".
With regard to the maker's mark Judy Rudoe comments that it is comparable to makers' marks on several British Museum collection finger rings (Reference numbers: 1961, 1202.445; 1961, 1202.47, AF 1264 and AF 1384) but that it is not identifiable in any standard works of reference and therefore cannot be used to date it.
Dimensions: Dimensions: External diameter: c.18.2mm, internal diameter: c.16.3mm, thickness of band: 0.9-1mm, width of band: 3.2mm. Weight: 2g.
Notes:
Discussion: Numerous inscribed posy rings similar to the present example have been reported under the 1996 Treasure Act as potential Treasure. One recent case is 2013 T880 found in Northumberland which was deemed not Treasure due to being less than 300 years old at the time of finding.
Conclusion: As this finger ring also cannot be said to securely predate 1713 it falls outside the stipulations of the Treasure Act 1996 in terms of age.
Inscription:
Your frend till death
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder after being declared not Treasure
Treasure case tracking number: 2014T329
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1720
Date to: Circa AD 1740
Quantity: 1
Weight: 2 g
Diameter: 18.2 mm
Date(s) of discovery: Thursday 19th September 2013
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Other reference: DENO ENQ48
Treasure case number: 2014T329
Primary material: Gold
Secondary material: Enamel
Completeness: Complete
Surface Treatment: Inlaid with enamel
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
No references cited so far.