finger-rings-lnks - 12/18/04 A set of web links to information on medieval finger rings by Dame Aoife Finn of Ynos Mon. NOTE: See also the files: finger-rings-msg, jewelry-msg, ear-rings-msg, combs-info-art, amber-msg, pearls-msg, gem-sources-msg. ************************************************************************ NOTICE - This file is a collection of various messages having a common theme that I have collected from my reading of the various computer networks. Some messages date back to 1989, some may be as recent as yesterday. This file is part of a collection of files called Stefan's Florilegium. These files are available on the Internet at: http://www.florilegium.org I have done a limited amount of editing. Messages having to do with separate topics were sometimes split into different files and sometimes extraneous information was removed. For instance, the message IDs were removed to save space and remove clutter. The comments made in these messages are not necessarily my viewpoints. I make no claims as to the accuracy of the information given by the individual authors. Please respect the time and efforts of those who have written these messages. The copyright status of these messages is unclear at this time. If information is published from these messages, please give credit to the originator(s). Thank you, Mark S. Harris AKA: THLord Stefan li Rous Stefan at florilegium.org ************************************************************************ From: aoife at scatoday.net Subject: [Aoife-Links] Lord of the Bling: What's on YOUR Finger? Date: December 17, 2004 8:24:17 PM CST To: aoife-links at scatoday.net Greetings, my faithful readers! Recently I and a few other ladies at a small Schola were given the ultimate treat: We were allowed to pick up, try on, admire and goggle at some real medieval jewelry artifacts. The owners of these artifacts were a pair of rather infamous SCAdian brothers and merchants who rarely teach but were happy to show their genuine medieval models and their modern medieval replicas for a small class on historical jewelry. I was in heaven! At one point I had six genuine historical rings on one hand, and I rapidly came to several conclusions: 1) Medieval fingers were much smaller than mine. I was lucky to get these adult rings onto my first finger joints, and though I am a tall woman, I have medium-sized hands. 2) Much of what jewelry is sold as medieval out in the real world is actually more fantasy or the dreaded "medieval inspired". 3) I love medieval rings. Therefore, this Links List is dedicated to the Medieval finger-ring and related items. As always, feel free to pass this Links List along to those who will find it interesting! Cheers Aoife Dame Aoife Finn of Ynos Mon, CL,CP Riverouge Endless Hills Aethelmearc Medieval Bronze Rings (Note slow loading due to looping music tract) http://www.thehonourablecompany.com/medieval/med.htm A merchant's site, with six images of extant medieval rings Glitz Queen: Medieval Room http://worldzone.net/art/glitzqueen/medieval.html (Site Excerpt) Medieval Gold & Cabochon Ruby Ring. It must've been brand-new when someone dropped it, for this ring was recovered from English earth in perfect condition centuries later. At least five centuries later, since it was made before goldmarking began. Cronaca: Sixth Grader Fins Viking Ring http://www.cronaca.com/archives/001048.html Viking Ring, Gold/Silver http://www.northerner.com/products/behvs1-19.html (Site Excerpt) Reduplicate of jewelry from the Viking Age found at excavations in Nar (Gotland Island, Southeast Sweden). The item weighs about 6.4 g (0.225 oz.). Mirabilis.ca : Mystery of Biggest Viking Gold Ring http://www.mirabilis.ca/archives/002082.html (Site Excerpt) The biggest Viking gold ring ever found in the British Isles has been discovered among the belongings of a York man following his death. Mystery surrounds the origins of the 324.6 gram arm ring, which has excited experts, one of whom called the find "fantastic". Saxon Rings for Sale: http://www.time-line.co.uk/erol.html#4033x0&&http%3A%252F%252Fwww.dogpile.com%252Finfo.dogpl%252Fsearch%252Fweb%252FSaxon%252BRing Builder Finds Anglo-Saxon Gold Ring During Tea Break http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/nwh_txo_en/ART15047.html An Oxfordshire builder went to a friend's house to help dig a patio and came away having uncovered a 1,400-year-old gold ring. Decorated with a cross and four glass beads, the Anglo-Saxon ring has now been declared as Treasure by an Oxfordshire coroner and is awaiting valuation by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. An Anglo-Saxon Runic Ring http://ariadne.uio.no/runenews/nor_1997/engl96p1.htm (Site Excerpt) A finger-ring with an inscription in English runes was uncovered, according to the only available report, in August/September 1993, during the digging of a foundation trench for a house at Wheatley Hill, some 14 kilometres east of Durham. The ring had apparently been cleaned, and this, together with certain curiosities in its design and legend, encouraged the British Museum authorities to have it carefully examined by their Department of Scientific Research. The conclusion was that the ring and text were genuine, and the piece is now the property of the British Museum, accession no. 1995,9-2,1. Anglo-Saxon Braided Gold Ring http://www.lesenluminures.com/enluminures/rings/ntext/mtwisted.htm (Site Excerpt) Of utmost simplicity and surprising modernity, this Saxon ring consists of two twisted wires plaited together and hammered at the back. The gold content is extremely high, and the ring is very soft. Medieval Jewelry http://www.ceu.hu/medstud/manual/SRM/jewel1.htm (Site Excerpt) A large proportion of gold used in late medieval production was recycled gold: goldsmiths used ancient coins, jewelry, or other gold objects as their raw material. In the High Middle Ages, the previously produced gold stock of Europe was primarily accumulated in the court of the Byzantine emperors; consequently, little gold was circulated in the Western world. Stefan's Florilegium: Medieval Jewelry http://www.florilegium.org/files/ACCESS/jewelry-msg.html (Site Excerpt from ONE message in the file) ...First I would point out that there were times in some cultures where no one but the royal family could wear gold or silver jewelry (France for a while or two comes to mind, see "7000 Years of Jewelry"). http://www.florilegium.org/files/ACCESS/finger-rings-msg.html (click accessories on the right and then finger-rings on the left. Site Excerpt from one message) ...Being a professional jeweler, I get asked this question frequently. I usually give people a short extract on love and marriage rings from an excellent book called "An Introduction to Rings" by Shirley Bury, who is the Keeper, Department of Metalwork for the Victoria and Albert Museum. Personal Ornaments of Ancient Ireland http://www.alia.ie/tirnanog/sochis/xviiic.html (Site Excerpt) Among the high classes the custom of wearing rings and bracelets of gold, silver, and findruine (white bronze) on the fore-arm, wrist, and fingers - including the thumb - was universal, and is mentioned everywhere in ancient Irish literature. Ashmole Museum: The Thame Hoard http://www.ashmol.ox.ac.uk/ash/objectofmonth/2001-10/theobject.htm (Site Excerpt) The five rings contained within the Thame Hoard are all made of gold. Three of them include stones believed to have magical properties. Ring b is set with a peridot, ring c with a toadstone and ring d with turquoise. Jewelry from the Thetford Treasure--Late 17th Century England http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/compass/ixbin/hixclient.exe?_IXDB_=compass&_IXSR_=kd1&_IXSS_=_IXFPFX_%3dgraphical%252ffull%252f%26_IXsearchterm%3dthet ford%252520treasure%26%257bUPPER%257d%253av2_free_text_tindex%3dthetford%2bt reasure%26_IXDB_%3dcompass%26_IXNOMATCHES_%3dgraphical%252fno_matches%252eht ml%26_IXspage%3dsearch%26%2524%2b%2528with%2bv2_searchable_index%2529%2bsort %3d%252e&_IXFIRST_=5&_IXMAXHITS_=1&_IXSPFX_=graphical/full/lg&_IXimg=ps12604 8.jpg&submit-button=summary (Apologies for the excessively long URL--please copy-paste to be sure you get it all)) 6,000 Years of Helenic Jewelry http://www.culture.gr/2/22/225/22501/225013/e01300.html Click on a menuitem to view a photo and description Victoria and Albert Museum: William Wytlesey's ring http://images.vam.ac.uk/ixbin/hixclient.exe?_IXSS_=%2asform=search_form%26_IXMAXHITS_=15%26_IXDB_=default%26%24%3dIXALL=medieval+ring%26_IXSESSION_=&_IXSR_=ro1&_IXSPFX_=full/t&_IXMAXHITS_=1&_IXFIRST_=3&submit-button=summary&_IXSESSION_= (Site Excerpt) This ring belonged to William Wytlesey, Archbishop of Canterbury between 1362 and 1374. It is said to have been found in his tomb. Jewelry as a messanger of culture between people http://www.goldsmith.it/us/culturale/storia/index.html A selective history of goldsmithing ww.historiska.se (Stockholm) : The Burge Hoard http://www.historiska.se/collections/treasures/medel/Burge-e.html Historical Museum of Gotland: Hoards from the Medieval Period and later (See also late and early viking eras) http://www.gotmus.i.se/fornsalen/skatter/engelska/hoards_from_the_medieval_period_and_later.htm (Site Excerpt) The Dune hoard is the largest and most opulent medieval hoard ever unearthed in northern Europe. The number of objects is no less than 122, some of which display an exceptionally high quality of craftsmanship. The hoard contains characteristic objects from more or less every decade from appr. 1100 to 1382. The latter date is marked by a small brooch made out of a coin minted for the Teutonic Order's Grand Master Winrich von Kniprode, 1351-1382. If you wish to correspond with Aoife directly, please send mail to: mtnlion at ptd dot net as she is unable to respond in this account Edited by Mark S. Harris finger-rings-lnks 4 of 4