MYSTERY OBJECTS

[Gloria]

Is it a nuns ring?

[Tizer]

You're not getting any closer. Look at the shape of it and think function rather than design.

[Cathy]

An original’knuckle-duster’.

[Tizer]

No, but you're getting closer by suggesting its use involves causing harm to others.

[Wendyf]

Is it a poison ring?

[chinatyke]

I'm thinking it is worn on the wrist and it is a swordsman guard. Just a guess.

[Stanley]

I think Wendy is on the right track. That funny bulbous shape was worrying me and this might be the answer. Some sort of receptacle.

[Tizer]

No poison, no receptacle, not worn on the wrist, but China was getting warm!

[Cathy]

Is it part of a headpiece - crown or helmet - worn by royalty or warriors.

[Stanley]

It's got me beaten. Ring, harm to others.
Was it worn by a high ranking person? If so was it used as a seal on legal documents?

[Marilyn]

...good shape for poking folks eyes!!!...

[Cathy]

or making Spells ( must be the Pendle Witch in me... ).

[Stanley]

All good suggestions. I await the dénouement with interest!

[Tizer]

None of the above although judging by the ornamentation Stanley may be right that it was `worn by a high ranking person' (it's gold and has red garnets and green emeralds). A clue - it's a thumb ring, but why would anyone wear a ring on their thumb? No, not just for decoration, it has a specific purpose.

[Wendyf]

Well, it's taken some doing but I've finally found out what this is, not a straightforward Google search!
The shape is that of an archer's thumb ring, but this one is a bit too fancy to be used for that purpose so probably ceremonial. It is made from gold, rubies and emeralds....
Ooh, just about to post when Tizer answered!

[Tizer]

Well done Wendy. I took a photo of the ring shown in a book on gems but there was no information other than `Thumb guard. This 17th Century ring mounted with rubies and emeralds was designed to protect archers' thumbs when releasing arrows'. Did you find an image of the exact same ring on google?

[chinatyke]

I nearly suggested it was to protect archers but I was thinking finger not thumb and I dismissed it because I thought archers wouldn't want anything that would catch on the bow string.

[Cathy]

Another good one Tize

[Tizer]

Thanks Cathy!

I've just found this web page which shows a similar but not identical ring... LINK

[Wendyf]

Well done Wendy. I took a photo of the ring shown in a book on gems but there was no information other than `Thumb guard. This 17th Century ring mounted with rubies and emeralds was designed to protect archers' thumbs when releasing arrows'. Did you find an image of the exact same ring on google?

I found it eventually by looking for gold and ruby archer's ring, it was on Wikipedia, but the ring is in the V&A.

https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi ... to-license

[Tizer]

That's either the same one or a twin! As it's in the V&A it probably is the same one as in my picture. The photo I copied is in a Dorling Kindersley book on gems and they would have got may of their pics from UK museums.

[Cathy]

I just googled and found the exact ring, with date etc. ,but I will wait to see if Wendy wants to respond any more first.
Ignore me, I just wanted to add Mughal Empire 17th C, but it’s all in Wendy’s link.

[Stanley]

Wonderful.... You must set another one Tiz.....

[Tizer]

And I can add that the ring in my pic is definitely the same one as in Wendy's link. I've looked at the photo credits at the back of my book and it shows page 32, bottom right credited to....the V&A! The V&A description of `the inside enamelled in opaque turquoise, pale green, white and black' is right too. You can't see that in the V&A photo but it's obvious in the mystery photo above. The power of OG!!

[Gloria]

That was really good, brilliant mystery object.