Featured Have I struck gold?! Detector find

Discussion in 'Jewelry' started by branvan30000, Jun 3, 2020.

  1. branvan30000

    branvan30000 Member

    Hi there people, I'm new on here.
    I was gifted an old metal detector recently and have done a search in northern Bavaria, Germany where my first find was an old ring, I have no idea where and when it was made, a bit of help will go a long way here.

    Thank you!

    IMG_20200603_090308.jpg

    IMG_20200603_090323.jpg
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 3, 2020
    reader, mmarco102, kyratango and 8 others like this.
  2. Hollyblue

    Hollyblue Well-Known Member

    Clean the dirt off of it and a good in focus photo of the design on the ring.When you post photos click the full image tab.
     
  3. branvan30000

    branvan30000 Member

    Will do! Cheers!
     
    kyratango, KSW, Barn Owl and 2 others like this.
  4. Barn Owl

    Barn Owl Well-Known Member

    I've seen similar rings described as medieval or post-medieval.
     
  5. KSW

    KSW Well-Known Member

    What a great find!. Such fun to research :)
     
    kyratango, Bronwen and branvan30000 like this.
  6. sabre123

    sabre123 Well-Known Member

    Definitely an interesting find. Must have been fun to dig that up.

    Almost looks like it could double as a seal of sorts.

    By the way, welcome to the forum!
     
  7. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Welcome, branvan.
    Looks like you've struck bonze.:playful: A very nice find, it is a signet ring, the style is ca 1500.
    If you haven't cleaned it yet, could we see a photo of the design on the front, so a real front view? It is easier to recognize with the light coloured dirt still in the grooves.
     
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  8. Barn Owl

    Barn Owl Well-Known Member

    AJ, do you have any resources you can suggest for medieval and ancient jewelry like this?
     
    Bronwen and Any Jewelry like this.
  9. Lucille.b

    Lucille.b Well-Known Member

    I'm wondering if any cleaning should be done before this is fully ID'd. Or at a minimum make sure you know what you are doing with cleaning if this winds up being ca 1500 as suggested. My own view would be to hold off cleaning until you know what is what.
     
  10. Ownedbybear

    Ownedbybear Well-Known Member

    I thought bronze - and don't clean it. In the UK, we have a scheme where you can get this looked at by a Finds officer. If Gernmany has the same, I'd do that.
     
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  11. branvan30000

    branvan30000 Member

    Thanks, bronze is as good as gold to me :)
    I'ts unfoetunately already bathing in some baking soda and lemon juice and I'm anxious to see what's behind all the dirt. There's bronze underneath it but I dare not scratch it with metal. Even if it's a touristy souvenier ring I don't care.

    Edit: There's an indentation in the middle of the ring, makes it look out of focus.
     
    Bronwen likes this.
  12. branvan30000

    branvan30000 Member

    I've read a few things online, Germans will take it and keep it. So, well, they're not going to see it!/ lol
     
    Bronwen likes this.
  13. aaroncab

    aaroncab in veritate victoria

    I would not soak it in anything acidic...or alkaline for that matter, removing the patina from something that old could more or less ruin whatever value it has.
     
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  14. branvan30000

    branvan30000 Member

    It is isn't it!
    Searching got me three ticks on my back. Hope they weren't diseased.
    I'm cleaning it atm, when I finish I'll update my pics, cheers!
     
    kyratango, Bronwen and sabre123 like this.
  15. branvan30000

    branvan30000 Member

    oh well, too late!
     
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  16. Barn Owl

    Barn Owl Well-Known Member

    Do you think applying a lacquer might be helpful after the cleaning to prevent further damage to the metal?

    I'm interested to see how it turns out with the patina removed.
     
    Bronwen likes this.
  17. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    I would have to check, I do a lot from memory.:shame: Most of the links I have are to gold jewellery, which is usually more detailed.
    @Ex Libris has worked on archaeological digs in our region, southeastern Netherlands, he might know of links to bronze jewellery.:)
    I agree. Holly did say to just clean off the dirt, which should be fine. Anything else could be a problem.
    :banghead::banghead::banghead::bigtears::bigtears::bigtears:
    Take it out now! That is an order! Just the dirt, Holly said. A brush, a rinse under the tap, or a short soak in soapy water would have sufficed.:( Always dry well after contact with fluids.

    I think I am going to lie down in a darkened room.:facepalm:
     
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  18. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    I would never advise lacquer on an item like this. Any further damage depends on how rough branvan is with the ring.:confused:
     
    reader, kyratango, Bronwen and 2 others like this.
  19. Ownedbybear

    Ownedbybear Well-Known Member

    Arg. I'm joining you. PLus it will have lsot all its context.
     
  20. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    I just hope it won't look like a cheap brass piece of .... now.:(
     
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