Medieval, Crusaders Bronze Finger ring - 19 mm (No reserve price)

"Medieval Bronze Finger Ring with Engraved Geometric Motif – Crusader Period
Culture / Period: Medieval, Crusader Period (attributed)
Date / Period: Circa 11th–13th century AD (attributed)
Material: Bronze
Dimensions: inside 17 mm
Condition: Good condition.

No shipping outside the European Union. Due to complex export regulations concerning cultural goods, this item cannot be shipped outside the EU. Please ensure you have a delivery address within the European Union before placing a bid.

Provenance information:
Object Registration ID: 1014
According to the previous owner, the object had previously been in a private collection in the Netherlands. The date on which it entered that collection is unknown.
The previous owner, B.N. from Schiedam (the Netherlands), stated that the object had been in his collection, although the date of acquisition was not provided.
The current owner (S.N.J. S.) purchased the finger ring from B.N. in Schiedam, the Netherlands.
No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available from the previous owner.

Background Information:
This medieval bronze finger ring features a slender band and a raised, approximately circular bezel decorated with an engraved geometric motif. The design consists of divided fields containing linear and curved elements, creating a distinctive ornamental composition. Its general appearance is compatible with medieval personal jewellery, although the precise meaning of the decoration remains uncertain.

During the Crusader period, particularly between the 11th and 13th centuries, finger rings were widely worn throughout medieval Europe and the eastern Mediterranean. They served as personal ornaments and could also express social identity, religious affiliation or individual preferences. Rings were worn by people from different social backgrounds, with materials and craftsmanship reflecting the means of their owners.

The Crusades brought Western European communities into sustained contact with Byzantine and Islamic cultures, encouraging the exchange of artistic influences, objects and metalworking traditions. Geometric and stylised decorative motifs were widespread across these regions, although such designs alone cannot establish a ring's geographical origin or a direct connection with the Crusades.

Bronze rings were produced by skilled craftsmen using established casting and engraving techniques. Compared with gold and silver jewellery, copper-alloy rings provided a more accessible form of personal adornment while still allowing considerable variation in design and decoration.

The ring's attribution to the Crusader period is based on its proposed typological identification rather than a documented archaeological context. Its original owner, place of manufacture and precise function cannot be established with certainty."}