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Description: | A gold finger ring with a narrow D-sectioned band, now slightly distorted, which expands and thickens slightly before the bezel which is formed from four rectangular collects arranged around a central, slightly larger rectangular collet to form a cross. Three of the four outer collets retain table cut stones, the central collet a point cut stone, identified as diamonds. The rim of each of the four outer collets is defined by engraved lines with angled engraved lines between on one edge of one collet, forming a border. The edge of each face of the outer collets is further defined by an undecorated rib at each of the external angles. Four ribs, each with multiple transverse grooves, extend from the centre of the reverse of the bezel, and terminate in bird-like claws at the internal angles of the bezel, giving the impression the bezel is in the grasp of a bird of prey. The rest of the underside of the bezel, the sides of the collets, and half of the band externally is covered with engraved crosshatching. Where the crosshatching terminates externally on either side there is a engraved median line with one transverse line and one chevron, flanked by two shorter engraved lines. The same pattern is repeated internally on the band to either side of the crosshatching on the underside of the bezel. Traces of black enamel survive within the crosshatching and on the bird claw ribs.Cf. a very similar example with triangular outer stones in the Victoria and Albert Museum (museum number M.20-1929, http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O71717/ring/). c. 1600 - 1650.Width of bezel 9.5mm. Length of bezel 11.5mm. Height of ring 24mm. Width 20mm. Internal diameter 15 - 16mm. Weight 3.91g.17th century.Non-destructive X-ray fluorescence analysis of the surface of the hoop and bezel of a finger ring from near Banningham, Norfolk, indicated in both areas a gold content of 84-87%, silver content of 8-10%, the remainder being copper. The four remaining transparent stones were identified by Raman spectroscopy as diamond. Traces of black enamel can be observed in the hatched engraving on the hoop. The ring weighs 3.91 grams.
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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