Early medieval Silver Anglo-Saxon Ring with Beast
17
days
20
hours
19
minutes
11
seconds
Starting bid
€ 1
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 330 - € 400
No bids placed
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 138365 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Early medieval silver Anglo-Saxon ring with a beast engraving on a broad hoop, dating to the 7th–8th century AD, in good condition and acquired from an antique market in the Netherlands in 2026.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Rare silver alloy Anglo-Saxon finger ring with a broad hoop, supporting a large circular bezel. The bezel is enclosed by a narrow incised border and is engraved with a stylised beast or quadruped.
The creature has an elongated body, bent legs and a curling tail.
Outside diameter: ± 20,6 mm
Inside diameter: ± 17,2 - 18,7 mm
Bezel: ± 15,6 mm
Condition: good solid condition, wearable. The silver displays an attractive smooth and darkened patina with areas of wear and deposits, consistent with age and use.
Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) is available upon request for all lots with a hammer price of €100 or higher.
-> Animal ornament was a defining feature of Anglo-Saxon metalwork. Craftsmen transformed birds, serpents and four-legged beasts into elongated, interlacing forms that could be fitted into small decorative spaces. The creature was not always intended to represent an identifiable species; its twisting body, open jaws and merging plant forms were part of a rich ornamental language associated with status, protection and artistic skill. Comparable 9th-century Anglo-Saxon silver rings decorated with engraved Trewhiddle-style beasts are preserved in the British Museum.
Catawiki disclaimer:
This object has been carefully examined for its material and surface characteristics.
Laboratory analysis (e.g. XRF) is not routinely undertaken in private collecting, and destructive testing is avoided as it causes permanent damage to archaeological material.
Before modern hallmarking, gold and silver alloys varied depending on local resources, recycling practices and economic conditions.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* MARGIN SCHEME: All our sales are subject to the margin scheme; therefore, no VAT is charged or shown on our invoices.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Rare silver alloy Anglo-Saxon finger ring with a broad hoop, supporting a large circular bezel. The bezel is enclosed by a narrow incised border and is engraved with a stylised beast or quadruped.
The creature has an elongated body, bent legs and a curling tail.
Outside diameter: ± 20,6 mm
Inside diameter: ± 17,2 - 18,7 mm
Bezel: ± 15,6 mm
Condition: good solid condition, wearable. The silver displays an attractive smooth and darkened patina with areas of wear and deposits, consistent with age and use.
Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) is available upon request for all lots with a hammer price of €100 or higher.
-> Animal ornament was a defining feature of Anglo-Saxon metalwork. Craftsmen transformed birds, serpents and four-legged beasts into elongated, interlacing forms that could be fitted into small decorative spaces. The creature was not always intended to represent an identifiable species; its twisting body, open jaws and merging plant forms were part of a rich ornamental language associated with status, protection and artistic skill. Comparable 9th-century Anglo-Saxon silver rings decorated with engraved Trewhiddle-style beasts are preserved in the British Museum.
Catawiki disclaimer:
This object has been carefully examined for its material and surface characteristics.
Laboratory analysis (e.g. XRF) is not routinely undertaken in private collecting, and destructive testing is avoided as it causes permanent damage to archaeological material.
Before modern hallmarking, gold and silver alloys varied depending on local resources, recycling practices and economic conditions.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* MARGIN SCHEME: All our sales are subject to the margin scheme; therefore, no VAT is charged or shown on our invoices.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Details
Culture
Early medieval
Century/timeframe
7th-8th century AD
Name of object
Anglo-Saxon Ring with Beast
Acquired from
Antique market
Year acquired
2026
Material
Silver
Country acquired from
Netherlands
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Antique market
Previous owner - year acquired
2026
Previous owner - country acquired from
Netherlands
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
