Blood of Christ enamelled gold ring, circa 1400–1500.1

Blood of Christ enamelled gold ring, circa 1400–1500.

Name: Blood of Christ enamelled gold ring, circa 1400–1500.
SKU: 30222
Price: 60000.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

Yellow Gold

Price: Price on application

Blood of Christ enamelled ring. A yellow gold flat band, the exterior enamelled around the full circumference with stylised droplets in red enamel on a blue enamel background, the interior with the italic inscription 'a vous ceruil uieil obeir' meaning 'In serving you I wish to obey', approximately 4.5 mm wide. yellow gold, approximately 3.5 grams in weight, 1400–1500.

The ring was discovered by a metal detectorist in West Harlsey, near Northallerton (North Yorkshire) in March 2024. It has been recorded on the Portable Antiquities Scheme database Ref: DUR-3F4083 and disclaimed as Treasure under reference 2024T357.

For comparable examples of medieval jewellery depicting the Five Wounds of Christ see British Museum collection numbers 2012,8046.1 and AF.897. See also Portable Antiquities Scheme references NARC-6CC178 and DUR-203298 for medieval rings with similar representations of the Blood of Christ. For a comparable ring bearing a similar posy inscription, see Victoria and Albert Museum, accession number M.209-1975.

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Reference Number 30222

Ring size: J

Size Guide

Period Post Medieval

TOTAL / RING Weight 3.5 grams

Provenance

Unearthed by a metal detectorist in West Harlsey, near Northallerton in North Yorkshire, in the vicinity of Harlsey Castle, originally constructed in the 15th century. The manor subsequently fell into disuse and was forfeited to the Crown in the 16th century. Its surviving remains were later incorporated into a 19th-century farmhouse, which still stands on the site.

Condition

The ring is in fine condition, comensurate with its age. Some of the enamel detailing has worn away over the ensuing centuries.

Director's Notes

The ring reflects a distinctly medieval tradition of Christian devotion centred on the Five Wounds of Christ, referring to the wounds inflicted upon his hands, feet and side during the Crucifixion. The delicate enamelled droplets symbolise the Blood of Christ, while the inscription 'a vous ceruil uieil obeir' (In serving you I wish to obey) may express both religious devotion and romantic allegiance. The ring may therefore have served a dual purpose, possibly worn as a betrothal ring, reflecting the close relationship between faith and personal affection in medieval society.

Delivery & Returns

Inside diameter (mm)	USA	UK	China India	European
11.63	0
11.84	¼
12.04	½	A
12.24	¾	A½
12.45	1	B	1
12.65	1¼	B½
12.85	1½	C
13.06	1¾	C½		41
13.26	2	D	2	42
13.46	2¼	D½
13.67	2½	E	3	43
13.87	2¾	E½
14.07	3	F	4	44
14.27	3¼	F½	5	45
14.48	3½	G
14.68	3¾	G½	6	46
		H		47
14.88	4	H½	7
15.09	4¼	I		48
15.29	4½	I½	8
15.49	4¾	J		49
15.7	5	J½	9	50
15.9	5¼	K		51
16.1	5½	K½	10
16.31	5¾	L		52
16.51	6	L½	11
16.71	6¼	M	12	53
16.92	6½	M½	13
17.12	6¾	N		54
17.32	7	O	14	55
17.53	7¼	O½		56
17.73	7½	P	15
17.93	7¾	P½		57
18.14	8	Q	16
18.34	8¼	Q½		58
18.54	8½	R	17	59
18.75	8¾	R½
18.95	9	S	18	60
19.15	9¼
19.35	9½	S½	19	61
19.56	9¾	T
19.76	10	T½	20	62
19.96	10¼	U	21
20.17	10½	U½	22	63
20.37	10¾	V		64
20.57	11	V½	23
20.78	11¼	W		65
20.98	11½	W½	24
21.18	11¾	X		66
21.39	12	Y	25	67
21.59	12¼	Y½		68
21.79	12½	Z	26
22	12¾	Z½		69
22.2	13		27
22.4	13¼
22.61	13½
22.81	13¾
23.01	14
23.22	14¼
23.42	14½
23.62	14¾
23.83	15
24.03	15¼
24.23	15½
24.43	15¾
24.64	16

Next day delivery Tuesday to Saturday before 1pm – order by 4:30pm	Complimentary
Nominated day delivery Tuesday to Saturday	Complimentary
Same Day Delivery within London Monday to Saturday – order by 3:30pm	£100

USA 7-10 business days - complimentary fully insured shipping	Complimentary
Europe and Rest of World 7-10 business days - complimentary fully insured shipping	Complimentary

Blood of Christ enamelled gold ring, circa 1400–1500.

Yellow Gold

Price: Price on application

About the Period

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