FINGER RING 866677

Description: An incomplete medieval to post-medieval copper-alloy finger-ring, with seal matrix bezel, dating to the period AD 1300-1700. It is incomplete insofar as the band of the finger-ring has broken. The bezel is broadly eight sided in plan (octagonal), and rectangular in section. The seal itself is oval with the letter 'I' surmounted by a crown. The letter 'I' is surrounded by a leafy branch or sprig on each side. It is apparently a common motif. The ring would have been c 25mm in diameter, but only about one third remains (a section of c9.5mm in length on one side of the bezel and c21mm in length on the other). The hoop is 2.75mm thick, D shape in section.. The bezel is 14.70mm x 8.50mm and 2.13mm thick. It has a dark grey patina. Apparently similar rings are recorded at NMS - 47261E, NMS - DD7C49 and NMS - 304CB2 with other letters described as surmounted by a crown. An informal survey of 37 examples of this pattern (mainly finger rings but a few seal matrices of the 'pawn' type also) showed 28 had the initial I (probably J), presumably reflecting the commonality of the names 'John' and perhaps 'James'. It weighs 3.39g.

Date: 1300 - 1700

Object type: FINGER RING

Last import: September 22, 2022