An Account of the Anglo Saxon Ring discovered near Driffield, in Yorkshire, now in possession of the Rev. Geo. Welby, Barrowby, Grantham

Abstract

This curiously-wrought and massive ring was discovered, as such things usually are, in an accidental and singular manner. A ploughman, feeling a slight obstruction to the progress of his ploughshare, found that it had entered the opening of a large finger-ring, which was soon ascertained to consist of pure gold, with patterns and inscriptions in embossed and enamelled work. Its weight is 1 oz. 3 dwts. 11 grs., or eight grains above the weight of four and a-half sovereigns. One-third of its circumference is formed by the bezel, which is circular, about seven-eighths of an inch in diameter, and appearing at first sight elliptical, from being curved in conformity with the rest of the ring. The designs on this portion have been worked on a separate plate, attached by four rivets. It has a central plain circular surface half an inch in diameter, in the midst of which is a small hole, partly, but not immediately, over one in the solid gold beneath. This seems as if the plate had sometime been off, and riveted on again not exactly in the right place, evidently by some hand less skilful than that which originally made the ring, The perforation has probably served for the insertion of a pin by which some ornament has been attached —probably, as we shall see, a representation of St. John the Baptist or of the Holy Lamb. Round the plain circular space are four semilunar depressions which unite to form a quatrefoil; each of these is ...