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Description: | A copper alloy pipe tamper incorporating a signet ring which could have been used as a seal matrix, dating from the 17th century. The finger ring element has a flat oval bezel decorated with a ropework border and having seven incised stars in the centre. The hoop is oval in section and at the apex of the reverse of the hoop, the piper tamper protrudes. The pipe tamper is integral to the hoop. The tamper has a moulded collar at the junction with the hoop, is oval in section and expands slightly in width to a wider circular terminal with collars which is the pipe tamper element. A very similar example is WAW-416CA5. According to SUSS-373EA5, the two artefacts; finger ring and pipe tamper, were often combined in the 17th century, as apparently gentlemen would often loose their pipe tamper having had too much to drink. With such an artefact the user could wear his ring and conceal the tamper in his palm.
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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