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Description: | A Post Medieval silver gilt finger ring dating from 1500 - 1700 AD. The band is rectangular in section and has split at one point. The outer face is decorated with beaded borders, each flanked by raised lines. The plain band in the centre is inscribed: " + DYE x TO x LIVE * " in seriffed capital letters. On the inside of the hoop is a maker's mark which is a recessed square containing letters in relief. These may be interpreted as an R back to back with a reversed R when read one way up, or a lombardic and ligated EF from another angle. The internal diameter is 18.2mm.This is a memento mori ring in remembrance of death. The legend 'DYE · TO · LIVE · EVER' is noted on page 33 of Evans (1931). A similar inscription is found on a ring within the British Museum collections: '+ DYE TO LIVE' (AF. 971).The ring is similar in style to SUR-126873 (2011 T293), GLO-19A336 (2007 T383), NMGW-9F38B2 (2007.16) and DOR-71A791 (2008 T407). These have been attributed a 16th - 17th century date.For comparison see AF. 1747 in British Museum collections, a serjeants ring with a date of 1577.The makers mark cannot be identified.Consequently, in terms of age and as the object contains a minimum of 10% precious metal it qualifies as Treasure under the stipulations of the Treasure Act 1996.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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