FINGER RING

A gold Medieval to early Post-Medieval seal finger-ring. This finger-ring is complete and in extremely good condition. It weighs 9.16g, has a height of 22.2mm and maximum width of 23.4mm. The band forms a sub-circular hoop whose maximum width is approximately one-third of the way up the height from the base of the hoop. From the maximum width the hoop tapers in to the bezel giving a slight sub-triangular appearance to the sub-circular shape. The hoop's maximum internal dimensions are: height 18.0mm and width 19.3mm.

The inner surface of the hoop is flat, smooth and undecorated or marked. At the base of the hoop the band has a 'D' shaped cross-section, width of 3.3mm and thickness of 1.7mm, which gradually increases to the shoulders and bezel. At the widest point of the hoop the band's width is 4.2mm and thickness is 2.1mm. From the widest part of the hoop up to the shoulders the external surface of the band is decorated. At the top of the band, the shoulders have a width of 8.7mm and thickness of 2.9mm.

The band's cross-section becomes triangular over the decorated zones of the hoop. On each side of the hoop, the decorative zone is split into two sub-rectangular panels. All four of these, two to each side of the hoop, have convexly rounded lower ends. At the end closest to the bezel the panels taper to points towards the outer edge of the hoop with flattened tops. At the lower end, there is a plain undecorated line of 0.6mm width between the two panels on each side. A plain border of similar width is present along each of the outer sides of the four decorative panels. These panels follow the outer edge of the hoop. As the hoop expands in width on the shoulders these panels separate forming a 'Y' shape. These plain bordering lines are present as raised ridges in the divided gap of the 'Y' and flattened tops of the panels. These panels are decorated with closely set alternating floral and foliate motifs, a flower at the base with foliate frond above repeated. The background is recessed so that the decorative motifs appear to be in relief while actually remaining on the same plane as the plain band above, below and the edging borders. The area above the decorative panels, between the slit of the 'Y', and up to the bezel is undecorated.

When viewing the ring side on, to see the sub-circular shape of the hoop, it is the raised border lines across the top of the decorative panels that help to define a stepped appearance to the profile of the finger-ring between the shoulder and side of the bezel to each side of the artefact.

The bezel is circular in shape, accounting for 11.7mm of the total external circumference. The bezel has a width of 11.3mm, which gives the band its maximum thickness accounting for 2.7mm of the finger-ring's total height. The bezel has a plain border of c.0.6mm. Most of the decoration is formed in the negative so as to create an image in relief when the bezel is used as a matrix on sealing wax. At the centre of the matrix is a squirrel sitting left (right as seen on any impression created with the matrix). Minute detail is given to depict fur on the tail which is upright approximately parallel to the curve of the animal's back. The two hind feet are shown and the front paws are together holding a small oval (presumably an acorn, or possibly a nut). This acorn connects the front paws to the front of the head in the mouth area. The area surrounding the squirrel is on the same plane as the edge of the bezel. However, the external edge is shaped to resemble a leaf, probably intended to be an oak leaf. The leaf is decorated with extremely shallow and extremely closely set diagonally positioned criss-cross lines. The leaf is surrounded by a border formed of indented closely set diagonal lines. Instead of forming a beaded border as indented pellets would have done, these closely set short diagonal lines create a rope-twist design that is set between the plain edge of the bezel and inner zoomorphic motif. The tip of the squirrel's ears touch the inner edge of the rope-twist border and the base of the tail is just c.0.3mm away from border at the approximate opposite side of the bezel.

See PAS records:  BH-A7461E (2014T485), SUR-625972 (2015T792), SOM-47D548 (2012T953), GLO-48E9C8 (2008T392), GLO-240F91 (2009T133), NMS-768695 - (2007T476), PAS-345404 - (2006T400),  LEIC-1E0AE6 - (2014T299), BERK-714B26 - (2018T45), DOR-A1BC3F - (2018T1033).

Also see DOR-2334D9 (2014T520), GLO-9994DE (2015T973), SOM-58AAB9 (2017T730) & KENT-EC571A - 2017T251 for examples of foliate/floral decoration formed by recessing the background areas.

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