Two fifteenth century rings from a field in North Yorkshire

Medievalists.net reported in the discovery of two 
fifteenth century rings from a field at West Harlsey in the central part of the North Riding of Yorkshire.

The two rings from West Harlsey

The one on the left has enamel decoration showing the Blood of Christ. The one on the right shade St Margaret and remains of white enamel on the shoulder

Image: Medievalists.net

What makes these two gold rings interesting is that they both have remnants of the original enamel decoration which had been applied to them.    

   

Gold rings from this period quite often survive in museum collections but I am not aware of examples with enamel decoration. If this was the case it might explain the rather angular nature of the patron saints on these rings, which might have relied on the enameller to add more subtlety. Burial the the earth may have destroyed the enamnel more often than not.

The account of the discovery and of the rings can be viewed at Medieval ‘Blood of Christ’ and St Margaret Rings Discovered in England

The remains of the fifteenth century castle in West Harlsey of the Strangeways family are described and illustrated by Wikipedia at Harlsey Castle