The Viking World: A History in ObjectsMain MenuGallery viewA galleryTag Cloudtag cloud pageThemesA path of thematic categoriesAuthor IndexExplore the collection by authorWorks CitedReferencesAdam Bigelow3afa9c7ecebf516bba6609664b1b12f79c54bf77Caitlin Donahue61b7e986e7c71d400e5c803912ed83c0cf65252fCaroline Harvey1783f21a5882b5b4d3d0b6c174d058052a5ff7eaEdward Hershewee701ef220480b51ca728fc9c719bc094cf813655Martin Hoffmana1fd203afd9a84ee8db567e188cf6ed1d269386eTyler Hruby23493f763b312110686cfafc62578fd0ab5f3833Brittany N. Johnsonc1c1763339f8fa953e3c907c6bb8a3bad0c28b2cCarlos Lua Pineda0a28cc23b0aa00b4f24a9e205aeb57fbdb07ff01Moira McConnell710633400590ea38533ea3412c01fc5056288180Clara McCurdy9aec76477d0b55f9c685c47330d6786ec98182e1Elise McIlhaneyef48481634ff342c8b43c9d56f678b2d3562fb69Cameron Meikle669a5682bfbfd603130a26e25628f24eb07e6295Alexander Christopher Newkirk019c2f5b38c043507251d1789e2fdf47e61c3b7fBenja Reilly816c23aa0d444213fb2d1ef33555a15617e08228Oliver Statenc625ae8c3926f5e1a4268bc91d6a6f4cdb1e7fb6Liam Sullivanaa3a1dccb90c7fe4646b61c4af594abbb0c5574aRead Wilder31bf4715220144a665996f2e6cae80a1a8611eadAliza Yazdanicd49f227d88c72331226ddf574bf56c37308cd10Austin Masonf6137011c68eb792c6e14634815583b15e707dea
Stamped Silver Finger Ring
12017-05-15T16:22:05-07:00Tyler Hruby23493f763b312110686cfafc62578fd0ab5f3833164563Finger ring made from sheet of silver with punched circle decorationplain2017-05-15T16:28:07-07:00Collins, Robert. Finger Ring. Still Image, 2011. NCL-90DD85. Portable Antiquities Scheme. https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/429209.850-1000NCL-90DD85CC BY53.1557122,-0.0975057SilverPortable Antiquities SchemeWood Enderby, EnglandEarly MedievalTyler Hruby23493f763b312110686cfafc62578fd0ab5f3833
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12017-05-21T13:14:15-07:00Stamped Silver Finger Ring8object pageplain2017-09-21T22:43:15-07:00This modest silver finger ring supports the notion suggested through rune carvings that the Norse were eager to show off their wealth. It was found on January 2011 with a metal detector in Lincolnshire, an area that once belonged to the Danelaw. It is made from a sheet of silver which was cut to form the present shape. Two rows of circles decorate the face of the ring, the unevenness of the rows suggest that this was done by hand, without any sort of guide. Each end of the ring has been bent to form hooks to join the two sides together so that the ring can be worn. During its lifetime, the ring would have appeared more rounded as it has been flattened and bent over time. The suggested dating of this object puts it between 850 and 1000 CE; however, due to the fact that this type of stamped ring is common throughout the Scandinavian world between the ninth and tenth centuries, it is likely that this ring was created more towards the beginning of this range.[1]
Even though this may not be the most decorative ring, it was worn, like any other form of jewelry, to indicate one’s social standing either by showing that one kept up with the fashions of the time or by displaying one’s wealth. This ring would have been relatively simple to make as it only requires shaping a sheet of silver and punching holes into it. This, combined with the fact that these types of rings are found all throughout the Scandinavian world, suggests that this may have been a common way to make an inexpensive ring. The Norse at this time were known to be proud people, often taking time to carve runes to indicate what they had owned or done as displayed in the Jelling Runestones or on more mundane items like a casket.[2] Therefore, perhaps any sort of jewelry, even this modest ring would have been enough to show others that they were wealthy enough to own a luxury item.