Record ID: NMS-CDAFBE
Object type: FINGER RING
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Norfolk
Workflow stage: Published
Description: Large gold finger-ring with internal posy inscription and external decoration. The hoop is of even width throughout, and the exterior has a bold groove around either edge, with a convex surface in between. This is decorated with neatly engraved ornament, worn in places, consisting of oblique reserved strips (strapwork) between engraved lozenges each containing a five-petalled flower or rose in the centre, with stems and leaves filling the narrower corners. The diagonal lines give a twisted or cabled effect to the outside. The flatter (but still slightly convex) …
Created on: Tuesday 22nd November 2022
Last updated: Wednesday 11th October 2023
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: NMS-CED7ED
Object type: FINGER RING
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Norfolk
Workflow stage: Published
Description: Gold and gem finger-ring, the gemstone held in place by four claws. The circular-section hoop is slender, generally 1.4mm in diameter. It flares upwards and flattens in thickness to a tall stirrup-shaped bezel which is just 0.9mm thick. This has a rounded cut-out at the top which wraps around the gemstone at little to form a pair of claws. At right angles to these are two more claws which are apparently integrally cast with the rest of the hoop. When viewed from the underside, there is no back to the bezel nor any kind of collet wrapped around the stone; the two …
Created on: Thursday 10th November 2022
Last updated: Thursday 8th June 2023
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: NMS-6E9398
Object type: BROOCH
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Norfolk
Workflow stage: Published
Description: Small gold annular brooch with pin constriction and projecting clasped hands. The circular frame is mainly triangular in cross-section, but this is interrupted by the pin constriction at 12 o'clock, the clasped hands at 3 o'clock, and two quatrefoil flower bosses at 6 o'clock and 9 o'clock. The pin constriction has a tiny transverse ridge to either side. The clasped hands have the thumbs uppermost, and the fingers above the thumbs are very slightly separated, but not apparently enough to hold something like a bead. The space in between has some hard so…
Created on: Friday 30th September 2022
Last updated: Tuesday 23rd January 2024
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Cawston', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: NMS-075348
Object type: BROOCH
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Norfolk
Workflow stage: Published
Description: Small gold annular brooch of medieval date, with inscription. The frame is circular with a triangular cross-section, flat and undecorated on the reverse. The inner angle of the front  is decorated with a groove within which is a line of fine, neat beading; under a lens it can be seen that this has been stamped, as each bead is surrounded by a slight upstanding circle. The outer angle has an inscription in seriffed capitals which is not immediately readable, and is discussed below. The frame is interrupted by a constriction for the pin. The gold pin survives…
Created on: Tuesday 13th September 2022
Last updated: Tuesday 24th October 2023
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: NMS-CF923E
Object type: FINGER RING
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Norfolk
Workflow stage: Published
Description: Gold finger-ring with rectangular-section hoop. The exterior is engraved with a mix of Roman and Lombardic capital letters, reading + SALVZ DE LVI. DVNT. IO MVI. + (Greetings from he whose.....). The letters all have small serifs, and are slightly clumsy in execution. The Z is reversed (like an angular S); the As have straight bars across the top and downward-angled central bars, the E is round-backed; and both the Ds are unusually shaped. The Ts and Ms are Roman in style. Dimensions: The external diameter varies slightly, but is around 19mm.…
Created on: Thursday 11th November 2021
Last updated: Monday 28th November 2022
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: NMS-328A7C
Object type: FINGER RING
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Norfolk
Workflow stage: Published
Description: Gold finger-ring with decorated hoop, set with a green gemstone. The hoop is D-shaped in cross-section, with a flat interior and a curved exterior. It tapers in width very slightly from 2.2mm wide at the shoulders to 1.9mm wide at the back of the hoop, and is a consistent 1.1mm thick. The hoop is decorated on the exterior with engraved saltires alternating with overlapping punched annulets. This decoration extends from the junction of hoop and bezel to just beyond the widest point of the ring and ends with a neat transverse groove, leaving the rest of the hoop, opposite t…
Created on: Tuesday 28th September 2021
Last updated: Monday 14th March 2022
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: NMS-D8F162
Object type: FINGER RING
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Norfolk
Workflow stage: Published
Description: Gold gem-set finger-ring, now distorted and missing one of the original three stones. It has a narrow hoop with a low D-shaped cross-section, and a square central bezel with torn side walls, now missing its stone.The central bezel was conventional in manufacture, with a gold baseplate and rectangular walls soldered on to make an open-topped box. Each shoulder has a small oval secondary bezel, placed along the axis of the hoop; both are set with dark green cabochon-cut stones or domed glass settings. The surface of the settings is rough, perhaps suggest…
Created on: Wednesday 7th April 2021
Last updated: Tuesday 12th September 2023
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: NMS-EAE967
Object type: FINGER RING
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Norfolk
Workflow stage: Published
Description: Gold finger-ring of 'stirrup-shaped' type. The hoop is rounded in cross-section, with a slight seam or crease in places along the centre of the inner surface. It flares to steep undecorated shoulders and has a solid triangular bezel set with a rectangular gem of dark colour (possibly blue) with a shiny, cabochon-cut polished convex surface. There is a slight scrape on one face of the bezel. Dimensions: External diameter (or width of ring) is 21.7mm, internal diameter is 18.2mm. Total from top of gem to exterior at back of hoop, 25.7mm. At the back of the hoop, the mi…
Created on: Friday 13th November 2020
Last updated: Friday 30th April 2021
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Alby with Thwaite', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: NMS-B32D47
Object type: BROOCH
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Norfolk
Workflow stage: Published
Description: Tiny gold annular brooch with circular frame. Most of the frame is circular in cross-section, but it is interrupted by a pin constriction and by four equally spaced collars which encircle the frame and which are decorated all around with relief pellets made using an annulet punch; these are usually known as 'brambled' bosses. Pin missing. Dimensions: Maximum diameter of brooch (with bosses) 16.0mm. Diameter of frame without bosses,14.0mm. Thickness of brooch (across bosses) 2.9mm. Diameter of cross-section of frame, 1.2mm. weight 1.12g. Discussion: Brooches of t…
Created on: Wednesday 23rd September 2020
Last updated: Wednesday 28th July 2021
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SF7629
Object type: COIN
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Suffolk
Workflow stage: Published
Created on: Thursday 20th December 2001
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'ARWARTON', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SF7545
Object type: FINGER RING
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Suffolk
Workflow stage: Published
Gold finger-ring of 'stirrup-shaped' type, now in two pieces and with an empty setting. The hoop is a little uneven but in most places 2.5 mm wide and a very thin D-shape in cross-section. The hoop is now crushed out of shape and a small piece, opposite the bezel, has become detached. The bezel is tall and triangular in the classic 'stirrup' shape, and has a very tiny circular setting for a gem a little less than 2 mm in diameter. The base of the setting is keyed for adhesive, of which no traces survive. Medieval, probably 13th century.
Created on: Wednesday 5th December 2001
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'KESSINGLAND', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SF5193
Object type: FINGER RING
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Suffolk
Workflow stage: Published
Gold finger-ring, triangular in section. On the inner face is a single engraved 'R'. On the outer two faces are the names of the Three Wise Men; one face has IASPAR: MELChIOR and the other has :BALTAZAR. Before Iaspar is an engraved saltire with a dot in each angle. The ring is large, 20 mm diameter internally and 23 mm diameter externally. The hoop is 3 mm wide and 1.5 mm thick. It is well made and the letters are clearly engraved; the As have a curl at the left-hand end, the M is Lombardic, the Z is crossed and there are serifs. From the form of the lettering it can be dated t…
Created on: Thursday 5th April 2001
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'SUFFOLK WETHERINGSETT CUM BROCKFORD', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SF4143
Object type: JEWELLERY
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Suffolk
Workflow stage: Published
Unidentified jewellery element made of pale gold. It appears complete, and might perhaps have been a decorative cap. It is sub-triangular or heart-shaped, and now rather crushed. Originally at least 6.5 mm thick, its sides have two facets of uneven depth, both decorated with delicate engraved scrolled motifs. On the wider facet of the angle these motifs are in zigzag fields, and on the other facet they are confined within a narrow band which narrows further towards the apex of the heart or triangle. The face next to the wider facet is better preserved and has a raised heart-shaped…
Created on: Friday 8th December 2000
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'SUFFOLK MENDLESHAM', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SF3530
Object type: FINGER RING
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Norfolk
Workflow stage: Published
Medieval gold finger-ring set with a garnet. The hoop is of very slender proportions - 0.7 x 0.6 mm - but, remarkably, intact and still nearly circular (c. 18-19 mm diameter). The hoop runs right up, without any shoulders, to a conical setting flaring out to accommodate a slightly irregular oval garnet (5.7 x 5.3 mm measured across the claws). This is cut flat across with very narrowly bevelled edges, and is held in place by four simple triangular claws. 12th to 14th century.
Created on: Friday 22nd September 2000
Last updated: Thursday 30th June 2022
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'NORFOLK WEETING WITH BROOMHILL', grid reference and parish protected.