Anglo Scandinavian Viking Silver-gilt Finger Ring

Code: 10793

This is an Anglo Scandinavian silver-gilt finger ring, dating to the 10th - 11th century A.D. The ring is made from two rods of silver, hammered, drawn and twisted together. The terminals simply joined with a cruciform shaped bezel. The surfaces of the ring have been fully mercurial gold gilt, displaying plenty of natural wear. Such a ring would have been worn by a Christianized Viking or Saxon, deriving from the two stranded (twisted) rings associated with Scandinavian jewellery. The shape of the cross is of a Saxon type (see St. Cuthbert's Cross) in use in England from the 9th century. The ring is in good excavated condition, though has a slight distortion of the band (likely caused through wear). A good ring from an old collection.

OBJECT: Finger Ring

CULTURE: Viking

DATE: c. 10th - 11th century A.D.

MATERIAL: Silver-gilt

RING SIZE:  11 (US)   V 1/2  (UK)

SIZE: 30mm x 25mm 3mm (bezel 7mm x 5mm x 4mm)

WEIGHT: 4.8 grams

PROVENANCE: Ex. European Private Collection, Munich.