Silver-gilt posy ring with Lombardic characters

Found in the Lache area of Chester

A late 13th or early 14th century

Egypto-Phoenician Silver Swivel Ring, C. 1000 BC

The thick solid silver shank tapering at the terminal and holding a solid silver scarab engraved with the falcon Horus in the center with the “Ames Scepter” and a protective Uraeus on either side, all standing on the Neb (Lord) sign.

Roman Gold Ring With Agate Cameo Depicting a Sleeping Dog and Greek Inscription, 1st-2nd Century AD

Etruscan gold ring, 4th–3rd century B.C.

In the Metropolitan Museum of Art (95.15.299)

Featured this week are two very tiny Oneota artifacts! In 1936, excavations directed by Charles Keyes recovered this copper ring and miniature catlinite disk pipe pendant from “Trench D” within the Lane Farm Enclosure, a Late Prehistoric Oneota settlement along the Upper Iowa River in Allamakee County. The bottom image shows a parallel groove in the center of the copper ring and a drilled hole for hanging the catlinite pendant.

Roman Carnelian Moon and Stars Ring, 100-300 AD

Sword and ring of Tipu Sultan

Like his father before him, Tipu Sultan, the Muslim ruler of the South Indian state of Mysore (now part of Karnataka state), played the opposing forces of the East India Company, the French, and the Marathas off against each other in the last quarter of the eighteenth century.

Finally, the British under the command of Lord Mornington, later the Marquess of Wellesley, stormed Seringapatam, Tipu’s capital, in May 1799, defeated the Sultan’s forces and killed him. The battle marked a crucial turning point in the East India Company from a defensive to an offensive military policy in India.

This ring and sword are trophies of the Battle of Seringapatam. The sword bears an inscription indicating that it comes from Tipu Sultan’s armoury, whereas the ring came with a label that states that it was taken from the finger of Tipu Sultan at the battle by Arthur Henry Cole, Earl of Enniskillen.

Viking treasure goes on show for the first time

A RARE Viking ring discovered on the outskirts of Rugby is to go on display to the public for the first time.

Rugby Museum’s first official piece of treasure was found in King’s Newnham and dates back to the 9th or 10th century.

It is among a rare discovery of artefacts from that era in Warwickshire and has led experts to suggest the local area had links with Viking traders.

The ring will take centre stage during the Relics and Romans day on Saturday, July 13.

Members of Rugby Archaeology Society (RAS) will treat visitors to guided tours of the museum’s Tripontium exhibition while Geminus, the Roman craftsman and part-time guard, will give craft demonstrations and talk about living and working in the turbulent times of 4th Century Britain. Read more.

Gold ring with a Frog between two Snake heads

400-350 BC

Western Greek

(Source: The British Museum)

Inauguration Fact: Theodore Roosevelt wore a very unusual piece of jewelry to his inauguration. On his finger was a ring containing a lock of Lincoln’s hair, cut from the  President’s head after he was shot. Image: Theodore Roosevelt, Record Group 111, ARC 530950.

Mourning ring, 1648, England.

QUEEN VICTORIA’S CORONATION RING. 1838.

“The royal goldsmiths made the ring for the wrong finger of the Queen, thinking it should go on the little finger. Unfortunately the Archbishop forced it on her ring finger and Queen Victoria had to soak her hand in iced water after the ceremony” - Royal Collection.

Chavtastic…

Dedicated to Anne Staneway Obt 8 Mar 1780 AE 20: There is white enamel, domed crystal, the sepia painting and high relief tomb motif with the skull and crossbones on top, painted on the tomb is ‘tempus fugit’ (or ‘time flies) as the winged hourglass . There is the willow, cypress and all this sits underneath a piece of domed crystal.

This piece stems from 1780, a time when Neoclassicism had become entrenched in mainstream culture and thought. Death, for its morbidity and harkening back to earlier times of less affluence and social mobility, had lost the memento mori symbolism. The meaning of the memento mori symbolism, while still in use somewhat for trinkets to denote the original intent (of understanding mortality), rather than be staunch reminders of death that had been popular in previous generations. This is why this ring is such a curiosity.

[The Art of Mourning is a fabulous website for all kinds of momento mori jewellery and other death-related curiosities]