Object Description
Medieval sapphire love ring. Set to centre with a natural unenhanced cabochon sapphire in a closed back claw setting, flanked by two heart shape red stones, possibly garnets, in closed back recessed rubover settings, to an impressive love ring featuring curving claws, a polished gallery and closed backholing, leading to trumpeting shoulders and flowing through to a solid shank, flattened opposite the bezel and engraved to the exterior ‘IhC’ in blackletter script. Tested yellow gold, English, circa 1350-1550AD.
Accompanied by documentation from the Portable Antiquities Scheme stating that this ring was found whilst metal detecting near Wisbech, Norfolk, in January 2020. It is recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme under reference number NMS-71D15D.
The Christogram engraving (IhC) represents the word Jesus, taken together with the heart symbols and the choice of stone is evidence for the ring having an ecclesiastical and/or devotional significance within the Christian faith. Sapphires were commonly used on rings of the clergy and were associated with, amongst other things, truth.