East Yorkshire Medieval Stirrup Ring

Crafted for the Present:

• Museum-Quality Historical Reproduction: An exact 1:1 historical reproduction cast from the original East Yorkshire find, preserving its surviving form, proportions and surface detail.
• Historically Cut Gemstones: Set with a 6mm round gemstone. The sapphire, emerald and ruby are shaped as medieval-style cabochons, while the diamond is rose cut and weighs approximately 0.60ct (60 points).
• Individually Hand-Cast in Leeds: Individually sand-cast, sized, gem-set and finished at our Leeds Corn Exchange workshop.
• Approved and Hallmarked: Approved and hallmarked by the London Assay Office in the precious metal selected.

The History of the Find:

Period: Medieval

Find Location: East Yorkshire, England

Style: Stirrup-shaped bezel set with a 6mm round gemstone: a cabochon-cut sapphire, emerald or ruby, or an approximately 0.60ct rose-cut diamond.

Significance of the Design:

Stirrup rings take their modern name from the distinctive raised form of the bezel, which resembles the outline of a stirrup. The shape itself is not known to have carried one fixed meaning. Its purpose was to lift the gemstone prominently above the hand, allowing its colour and character to become the centre of the ring.

To its medieval owner, a gemstone could have represented considerably more than personal decoration. Medieval writings attributed different virtues to precious stones, and their colours were sometimes associated with qualities such as protection, faith, courage, love and good fortune. A wearer may therefore have chosen a stone not only for its beauty, but for what they believed it could bring into their life.

A gem-set ring would also have been an unmistakable possession. Gold and precious stones were costly, and examples of this kind are likely to have been worn by people with some standing or means—members of the nobility and clergy, landowners or prosperous merchants. Such a ring could communicate wealth, taste, devotion or personal identity without the need for an inscription.

In the subdued light of a medieval hall, church or household, a cabochon or rose-cut gemstone would have caught candlelight differently from a modern brilliant-cut stone. Rather than producing sharp modern brilliance, it would reveal a deeper pool of colour or a softer, subdued sparkle. Worn close to the hand, the ring may have served as a private emblem of belief or status as much as a visible piece of jewellery.

The East Yorkshire Find:

Discovered in East Yorkshire, the original artefact provides the complete historical form for this reproduction. Its surviving proportions, surface character and handmade irregularities are preserved rather than redesigned or modernised.

Materials and Gemstones:

Available in Solid Sterling Silver, 9ct Gold, 18ct Gold and Platinum, with a choice of Sapphire, Emerald, Diamond or Ruby.

The sapphire, emerald and ruby are supplied as 6mm round medieval-style cabochons. The diamond option is a 6mm round rose-cut diamond weighing approximately 0.60ct (60 points).