Cumbrian Medieval Concentric Ring

Crafted for the Present:

• Museum-Quality Historical Reproduction: An exact 1:1 historical reproduction cast from the original British find, preserving its surviving form and surface detail.
• Individually Hand-Cast in Leeds: Individually hand-cast, sized 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: 13th–15th Century (Late Medieval)

Find Location: Near Penrith, Cumbria

Style: Circular bezel with concentric grooves

Significance of the Design:

This ring features a distinctive concentric-circle or target motif, a geometric pattern with a very long history in British decorative metalwork. Circular designs have often been interpreted as symbols of continuity, eternity, the sun or protection, and in a medieval setting the repeated circles may have carried a personal or talismanic meaning for the wearer.

The central target pattern also gives the ring a strong visual focus. Whether its purpose was purely decorative or carried a deeper protective or symbolic meaning is impossible to know for certain, but motifs of this kind would have been immediately striking on a small piece of personal jewellery.

The Find:

Discovered near Penrith in Cumbria, the original artefact has a sturdy band and a clearly defined central bezel. The surviving wear and irregular surface give the piece much of its character and suggest that it was a practical item of jewellery used in everyday medieval life.

Weight by Metal (approximate, varies by ring size):

• Solid Silver (925): 2.7g
• 9ct Gold: 2.9g
• 18ct Gold: 4.0g
• Platinum: 5.4g