Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
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Unique ID: LANCUM-F589D5
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
Gold post-medieval two-piece swivel glove ring dating from the 16th to 18th century AD. The bezel is circular with a raised inner and outer border. The centre of the ring (the female element) swivels and the front depicts a stylised fleur-de-lys interlaced terminating in two stars weaving between the letters +E M+ (reversed, so that they would read EM on an impression). The reverse of the swivel component depicts an incised leaping greyhound.
The shoulders of the ring are arched in the style of raised floriated columns with incised horizontal lines filled with traces of white enamel. The circumference is also inscribed in niello and appears to say *GONEEDC*IN*DNOO* but would be read as CONEEDO IN DNO. CONEEDO is an attempt at COMMENDO, and DNO with the contraction mark over it is for DOMINO. More fully it would be "commendo in Domino" - "I commend (you) in God" - a well used religious expression.
The ring has been damaged probably by the plough but is still intact. The diameter of the bezel is 18mm, the length is 23mm, the width is 34mm, thickness 14mm and the weight 30.07g.
The finder considers that the rings inscription is +E II+ and that it was found on a site that was supposedly a hunting lodge of Edward II, who was apparently fond of greyhounds, but it is several centuries too late in style.
Such swivels were also used on a range of objects such as strap fittings including animal leashes, hanging purses and sword belt fittings and were probably in use for the entire Medieval period. The only other parallel for a swivel ring so far on the database is NCL-17A886.
Notes:
Valued by the Treasure Valuation Committee on 15.11.17 at £22,000.
Thanks are due to Malcolm Jones for his assistance with the ring's inscription.
This has been noted as an interesting find by the recorder.
Subsequent action after recording: Declared Treasure but returned to Finder as Museum unable to acquire
Treasure case tracking number: 2016T887
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1500
Date to: Circa AD 1800
Quantity: 1
Length: 23 mm
Width: 34 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight: 30.07 g
Diameter: 18 mm
Date(s) of discovery: Wednesday 19th October 2016 - Wednesday 19th October 2016
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Treasure case number: 2016T887
Primary material: Gold
Completeness: Incomplete
Surface Treatment: Inlaid with enamel
4 Figure: SE4448
Four figure Latitude: 53.92627052
Four figure longitude: -1.33143727
1:25K map: SE4448
1:10K map: SE44NW
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
No references cited so far.