Image: Escrick Ring YORYM 2011 262

Description: Gold finger ring set with a large blue gemstone and red glass cloisonné. In addition, two separate fragments of garnet, one a splinter, the other one segment-shaped. The central cabochon gem is surrounded by four triangular cells. Where these meet, small round cells have been set. Three of them still contain minute granular inlays, although it is impossible to determine whether they are glass pastes, glass or gem stones. A short, straight cell wall emanates from each roundel and meets the corners of the outer, square frame of the bezel, thus bisecting the space between the triangles. Glass slips are still present in one of the triangular cells and four of the interstitial spaces. The square frame of the bezel is set onto an eight-lobed base. The lobes are alternately embellished by gold granules and by beaded wire enclosing further gold granules. Where this platform meets the round-sectioned hoop, three further gold granules are set. The underside of the lobed platform is plain. The presence of a sapphire is not characteristic for the Anglo-Saxon/Merovingian period and in conjunction with the use of red glass, rather than garnet, for inlay suggests that this ring dates later. Parallels on stone use, granulation and layout make a date perhaps in the late 10th or 11th centuries likely.
Title: Anglo-Scandinavian finger ring found at Escrick
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Author: Photographed by: York Museums Trust Staff
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0
License: CC BY-SA 4.0
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