{"product_id":"late-roman-to-medieval-silver-ring-ovata-3rd-14th-c-ce-engraved-oval-bezel","title":"Late Roman to Medieval Silver Ring - 'Ovata' (3rd–14th c. CE) EU 57 \/ US 8","description":"\u003cp\u003eA silver band ring with engraved oval bezel, Late Roman to Medieval, named 'Ovata'. A thin band widening to an oval front with two concentric engraved ovals, and a pair of engraved leaf-shaped fields on each shoulder.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Motif:\u003cbr\u003eThe front of the band carries two, possibly three, concentric engraved ovals, their long axis running along the band, around a centre that now holds no device. On each shoulder a pair of half-oval or leaf-shaped fields is set against the two edges of the band, their rounded sides turned toward each other. The design is non-figural and heavily smoothed by wear. Concentric frames are a long-lived ornament on finger rings; no specific meaning can be established for this example.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDetails:\u003cbr\u003eEra: Late Roman to Medieval, most likely medieval\u003cbr\u003eDating: 3rd–14th c. CE\u003cbr\u003eMaterial: Silver, tested by XRF\u003cbr\u003eRing Size: EU 57 \/ US 8\u003cbr\u003eCondition: The thin band is intact, with worn engraving, edge loss and nicks around the oval front\u003cbr\u003eProvenance: Private collection of K.V.D., Belgium; inherited from the Casteleyn collection. Acquired by Aurora Antiqua in August 2026.\u003cbr\u003eUnique Identifier: R-290-S\u003cbr\u003eAuthenticity: Comes with certificate of authenticity\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMetal analysis:\u003cbr\u003eOne XRF reading on the surface measured about 87 % silver and 10 % copper, with small amounts of gold and lead. No cadmium or nickel was detected above the noise level of this reading. A surface reading is not a fineness and does not date the ring.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCondition and Authenticity:\u003cbr\u003eThe visible condition is described above. A Certificate of Authenticity is included.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHistorical Context:\u003cbr\u003eRings of this form, a thin band widening into an engraved oval bezel, were made from Late Roman times into the Middle Ages. We read this one as most likely medieval, about 10th to 14th century, but without a find context a Late Roman date remains possible. The ring is made in one piece, its bezel simply the widened band. On the medieval side its closest published relatives are the wrought band rings of Types K and L in Davidson (Corinth XII, 1952) and the band rings of Type I.6 in Pülz (Ephesos, 2020). Roman band rings of the same outline are recorded as form 2g in Guiraud (1989), which is why the form alone does not date the ring.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn its concentric ornament and worn silver band, the ring preserves a decorative vocabulary shared by Late Roman and medieval ring makers alike.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExplore more \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/medieval-crusader-rings\"\u003eMedieval rings\u003c\/a\u003e from our collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aurora Antiqua","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":63796964163914,"sku":"R-290-S","price":440.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0897\/7140\/9738\/files\/top-down-view-of-silver-ring-vitgard-showing-full-oval-outline-of-the-engraved-f-6.jpg?v=1791137239","url":"https:\/\/auroraantiqua.com\/products\/late-roman-to-medieval-silver-ring-ovata-3rd-14th-c-ce-engraved-oval-bezel","provider":"Aurora Antiqua","version":"1.0","type":"link"}