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Ring - William Wytlesey's ring

William Wytlesey's ring

  • Object:

    Ring

  • Place of origin:

    Canterbury (said to have been, worn)

  • Date:

    ca. 1362-1374 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Gold, chased, engraved; sapphire, drilled

  • Credit Line:

    Given by Dame Joan Evans

  • Museum number:

    M.191-1975

  • Gallery location:

    Jewellery, room 91, case 1, shelf 30

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This ring belonged to William Wytlesey, Archbishop of Canterbury between 1362 and 1374. It is said to have been found in his tomb. It seems that bishops frequently chose sapphires for their rings. Of 20 rings found in the graves of English medieval bishops, twelve are sapphires. A bishop receives a ring at his consecration and wears a ring as a symbol of his office. We do not know whether this ring was William Wytlesey's consecration ring, or one of a number of rings which he owned.

Physical description

Ring: gold, sapphire. A gold ring with a six-cusped setting holding a drilled octagonal sapphire. The hoop is stirrup shaped, and the shoulders of the ring are chased with floral sprays, formerly enamelled. Inscribed inside the hoop in black letter wllms wytlesey [William Wytlesey].

Place of Origin

Canterbury

Date

ca. 1362-1374 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown

Materials and Techniques

Gold, chased, engraved; sapphire, drilled

Marks and inscriptions

"wllms wytlesey" 'William Wytlesey' Inscribed inside the hoop, in black letter

Dimensions

Height: 3.1 cm
Width: 2.8 cm
Depth: 1.4 cm

Object history note

Said to have been found in the grave of William Wytlesey, Archbishop of Canterbury (d.1374).

Descriptive line

A gold ring set with a drilled octagonal sapphire, inscribed inside the hoop in black letter wllms wytlesey, England, 1362-1374

Materials

Gold; Sapphire

Techniques

Engraving (incising); Chasing; Drilling

Subjects depicted

Floral sprays

Categories

Jewellery; Metalwork; Amulets

Collection code

MET

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Qr_O71727
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