FINGER RING

The outer face of the hoop has prominent double ridged borders and the sunken field between these is decorated with a continuous incised leaf scroll motif, this has some small specks of the original black enamel infill surviving. The plain inner face has an inscribed legend mostly in seriffed capital lettering reading + LEARNE To DIE, this lettering also has traces of black enamel inlay.

Date: later 16th century

Dimensions: 17.67mmin external diameter and 16.06mm internally, 5.41mm in hoop height, 2.915g in weight.

Discussion: A memento mori ring in the British Museum (AF.2986), dated 1703/4, bears the inscription LEARN TO DYE but it is of later form, featuring a crystal setting covering a scene of two lovers and a winged skull. The Near Woodbridge ring is similar in form to other finger rings of 16th century date such as 2011 T613 and 2016 T310.

The object contains more than 10% precious metal and is over 300 years old. Consequently, it qualifies as Treasure under the stipulations of the Treasure Act 1996 in terms of both age and precious metal content.

Faye Minter SCCAS, June 2018