Deep History: 15th C. Chased Silver Band

Stretch the imagination back to those days of long ago to the Fall of Constantinople, to the printing a Gutenberg book and to the War of the Roses. All of these events occurred during the mid 15th century—as did the crafting of this superb and august silver gilt antique ring. Silver gilt is high carat gold gilded over silver. Formerly the entire ring was gilded but is now primarily worn and evidenced only in the recesses of the design.

Additionally, we find chased small circles worked closely together to form a decorative cobblestone pattern. Chasing involves the pushing of metal; a special tool is employed to punch the metal, moving it or as in this piece, the raising of small areas of the metal. Interposed among the pattern are diagonal and horizontal stripes of gilding. This type of imbricated or overlapping pattern is seen on rings of this period. Please refer to plate 20, rings B and C in “British Rings from 800 – 1914” by Charles Oman.

Condition: Excellent for its age; wear to the gilding, a bit of edge wear, some inner scratches and surface wear; overall a tad lowering of the surface pattern due to age and wear.

Measurements: ¼ of an inch (0.7 cm) in width by 1/8 of an inch (0.3 cm) in depth. This antique ring has a weight of 8.2 grams. Size US 7-1/4 ((British O; Euro 17.50, 55.5 mm). Due to its great age and rarity, we recommend that this ring not be sized.

Date & Origin: Circa 1450; English in origin.

Note: This ring is highly wearable but the dark patina will give way to lighter silver as the natural oils of the skin rub and buff the silver.