Medieval, Crusaders Bronze ring with glass stone - 18 mm

"Medieval, Crusaders Bronze Ring with Glass Stone

Culture / Period: Medieval, Crusaders
Date / Period: 11th–14th century
Material: Bronze with glass inlay
Dimensions: Outside diameter: 18 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: 703

The current owner purchased the Medieval, Crusaders bronze ring with glass stone from a private collector, N.N.

The previous owner, a private collector, N.N. from the Netherlands, stated that the object had been in his collection since the 1990s.

According to the previous owner, the object had previously been in a private collection in the Netherlands since the 1990s.

No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available from the previous owner.

Background Information:
This medieval bronze finger ring, dating to the Crusader period, is set with a spherical glass inlay held within a robust claw setting. Rings incorporating coloured glass were widely worn throughout the eastern Mediterranean during the 11th–14th centuries, offering an attractive yet affordable alternative to precious gemstones. The surviving glass insert remains an integral feature of the ring and reflects the enduring popularity of coloured decorative inlays in medieval jewellery.

Finger rings of this type were worn by both men and women as personal ornaments and, in some cases, may also have served as symbols of status, identity, or personal devotion. During the Crusader period, jewellery styles drew upon Byzantine, Islamic, and Western European traditions, resulting in distinctive forms that combined practical craftsmanship with decorative elegance.

The ring was cast in bronze and carefully finished before the bezel was fitted with its glass setting. Such jewellery was produced by skilled metalworkers in established workshops, and comparable examples have been recovered from Crusader-period settlements as well as Byzantine and medieval sites across the Levant, illustrating the extensive exchange of artistic styles and manufacturing techniques throughout the region.

Dating to the High Medieval period, this ring represents the material culture of a society shaped by commerce, pilgrimage, and cultural interaction. It forms a tangible connection to the medieval world, where jewellery of this kind was worn in everyday life and reflected both personal taste and the rich artistic traditions of the eastern Mediterranean."