FINGER RING

Description:

A complete gold finger ring with a blue gem stone setting (probably a corundum or sapphire), dating to the medieval period (c.AD1300-1400).

The plain hoop is round in plan, tapers from the shoulders toward the base, and is sub-rounded in section. The thicker shoulders of the hoop are soldered to the bezel, the lower portion is triangular in shape, inverted, with the point resting on the hoop; the sub-rectangular upper collet is bevelled inward to hold the gem in place. The high-sided collet holds an irregular sub-oval pale blue corundum, commonly called a 'sapphire'.

There is minor damage, a small crack, to one corner the collet, resulting in the gem stone being slightly loose within the setting.

Dimensions: External diameter: 20.49mm; Internal diameter: 17.37mm; Thickness: (shoulder) 1.99mm, (lower hoop) 1.25mm; Weight: 2g.

Bezel: Width: 5.3mm; Length: 4.58mm; Height: 5.22mm

Discussion:

Their proliferation in the medieval period of gem-set rings can be related to what Hinton (2005, 187) terms "a new European interest in gems" deriving from established Judaeo-Christian lore and growing knowledge in the early Renaissance of classical and oriental traditions. The importation of these gems from 'the far corners of the world' added to this sense of exoticism (ibid). Thus imbued, the gem stones were believed to offer "protective virtues" to the owner when worn in contact with the skin, whether on a finger or attached to ribbon or chain around the neck (Standley 2013, 91). Encyclopaedic texts called lapidaries (originally written in Latin, but also written in vernacular forms from the 11th century) recorded the powers and befits to the wearer of precious and semi-precious stones (Campbell 2009, 33). Thus blue corundum or sapphire, particularly in a Christian context, was emblematic of truth, constancy and fidelity, and might also reference the heavens and the firmament. The stone also has, appropriate to the Renaissance period, classical roots "being known from the earliest antiquity and was dedicated to Apollo by the Greeks" (Mollett 1987, 43 and 288).

The ring broadly conforms to the type of decorative gemstone finger rings described by Egan and Pritchard (2002, 326, fig 215) in particular that illustrated as '1612'. Examples of this type of ring are numerous on the PAS database, including Treasure cases 2012-T768 (NLM-38D575) and 2016-T1016 (NMS-93A6EF). However the inverted triangular bezel with high-sided collet are somewhat unusual, with limited close comperanda; the most similar are 2017T761 (HAMP-6C5109) and 2019T158 (BERK-57430E). Nevertheless, all comply with the stratified 14th century dating pattern developed by Egan and Pritchard (ibid).

Conclusion: The age and precious metal content of this object meets the criteria for Treasure under the terms of the Treasure Act 1996.

Author: Benjamin Westwood, Finds Liaison Officer for Durham, Darlington & Teesside

Date: 29/01/2019

References:

Campbell, M., 2009. Medieval Jewellery in Europe 1100-1500, V&A Publishing, London; New York.

Egan, G., Pritchard, F., 2010. Dress accessories, c. 1150 - c. 1450. Museum of London

Hinton, D.A., 2006. Gold and Gilt, Pots and Pins: Possessions and People in Medieval Britain, OUP Oxford.

Mollett, J.W., 1987. An illustrated dictionary of antique art and archaeology. Omega, London.

Standley, E.R., 2013. Trinkets and Charms. Oxford University School of Archaeology.