FINGER RING

Silver gilt Medieval finger ring. The rectangular bezel is raised in a band across the full length to form an undecorated flat rectangular apex. This is flanked to either side by rising symmetrical, slightly concave decorated facets. At both ends of the bezel, just off the vertical, the shoulders of the ring stand just proud of the hoop on flat sub-oval decorated cartouches that narrow slightly towards the lower hoop. The remainder of the hoop is plain. The cartouche on one shoulder is bordered and within is engraved a crown surmounted by a heart. There are three dots within the heart arranged in a triangle with two dots uppermost. The heart is flanked by a single feather or elongated leaf to either side. The opposing shoulder is engraved with a similar crown surmounted by a four leaf quatrefoil and central pellet, probably a rose. The decorated facets on the bezel contain similar engraved decoration. One with a central heart flanked by single feathers or leaves set on a downward diagonal. The other by a central quatrefoil with trefid ends and central pellet, set in saltire and flanked by dotted hearts. The undecorated form of the ring is the same as many 15th-16th century Medieval iconographic rings that are heavily decorated with religious depictions of Saints. The decoration on this ring however, is secular and consists of more romantic symbolism of the period. The hearts depicted do not bear any of the attributes of a catholic sacred heart and it is more probable that the ring was given as a token of love, such as a betrothal ring. Circa AD15th- early 16th C.

Dimensions: 23mm diameter, 10.6mm wide at bezel, Weight 9.4g