​The Essex Lombardic Signet

​Period: 13th – 14th Century (High Medieval)

​Original Material: Copper Alloy (Bronze)

​Find Location: Essex, UK

Style: Oval bezel with incised Lombardic inscription and linear shoulders

Significance of the Design:

This ring features an inscription in Lombardic capitals, a script characterized by its curved, swelling lines. While the specific text on many of these finds remains a “mystery” due to ancient spelling variations or shorthand, these inscriptions usually fell into three categories:

• ​Religious Invocations: Short prayers like “Ave Maria” or “IESVS” intended for spiritual protection.

• ​Mottoes of Love: Romantic phrases in Norman French, such as “Amor Vincit Omnia” (Love conquers all).

• ​Personal Names: The name or initials of the owner, serving as a functional signature for sealing wax.

​The triple linear grooves on the shoulders of the band are a deliberate stylistic choice. They draw the eye toward the bezel, framing the text and signalling that the wearer was literate – a significant mark of status in Medieval Essex among the burgeoning merchant and administrative classes.

The Find: 

Discovered by a metal detectorist in the heavy clays of Essex, the original artifact survives with a deep, stable “forest green” patina. The lettering remains remarkably crisp, suggesting that while the ring was worn daily, it was cast with high-quality bronze intended to last for generations. Its presence in Essex, a county with powerful trade links to London and the Continent, highlights the sophisticated international culture of the High Middle Ages.