ESS-6E7078: Fragment of medieval finger ring

Rights Holder: Colchester Museums
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Rights Holder: Colchester Museums
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FINGER RING

Unique ID: ESS-6E7078

Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow status: Awaiting validation

Fragment of cast, copper alloy, medieval finger ring. The integrally cast bezel of this ring is circular in plan. It is decorated with a border of parallel, vertical incised lines. Within this border is a central motif of what appears to be a leaping dolphin or fish. This may be a reference to the French ‘Dauphin’ symbol of a dolphin (often seen on jettons), though this cannot be proved conclusively. The hoop of the ring extends from the bezel, narrowing as it goes. The hoop is broken, with the lower half now missing. The patina of the ring is dark brown with some patches of mid green. The breaks on the hoop, whilst not ‘fresh’, are not worn smooth, suggesting that this damage occurred in the recent past. The diameter of the bezel is 13.73mm. The hoop is 6.28mm at the narrowest point, 10.28mm at the widest point and 2.78mm thick. The ring fragment weighs 7.31g.

An impression was taken of the ring, but the design did not appear coherent. It is more likely that the decoration was carved in ‘positive’, i.e to be viewed as it appears and not in an impression. Though a parallel could not be found, this ring probably dates to the 14th or 15th centuries.

Subsequent actions

Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder

Chronology

Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1300
Date to: Circa AD 1500

Dimensions and weight

Quantity: 1
Width: 10.28 mm
Thickness: 2.78 mm
Weight: 7.31 g
Diameter: 13.73 mm

Personal details

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Other reference numbers

Other reference: ID 3478

Materials and construction

Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Fragment

Spatial metadata

Region: Eastern (European Region)
County or Unitary authority: Essex (County)
To be known as: South Benfleet

Spatial coordinates

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

Discovery metadata

Method of discovery: Metal detector
General landuse: Cultivated land

References cited

No references cited so far.

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Timeline of associated dates

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Audit data

Recording Institution: ESS
Created: 19 years ago
Updated: 13 years ago

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