Medieval rings are rarer than Roman ones and, to many collectors, more personal. They were worn by knights, clergy, merchants and lovers, and they carry beliefs about stones, saints and love that feel strikingly direct even now.
Stirrup rings
A stirrup ring has a hoop that rises to a point at the front, like a horse's stirrup. That name was given by Victorian collectors; more recent study suggests the shape echoes the Gothic arches of cathedral windows. Stirrup rings were fashionable from the 12th into the 14th century and are usually set with a single polished cabochon, often a sapphire. Close examples are held by the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Metropolitan Museum and the British Museum.
Pie-dish rings
Victorian collectors also named the late 13th-century "pie-dish" or moule à tarte ring, for its scooped, crust-like bezel. Our medieval gold and garnet ring, made in France or England around 1280, holds an 11ct garnet cabochon in an octagonal box bezel of 22ct gold. Related rings are in the Swiss National Museum, the Hermitage, the V&A and the British Museum.
The power of stones
Medieval people believed gemstones had real powers, catalogued in books called lapidaries. One of the most widely read, by Marbodus of Rennes in the 11th century, claimed sapphires protected the body and cooled fevers. Sapphires were prized by bishops and abbots, and have been found in the tombs of high-ranking clergy. Garnets were thought to protect against poison, plague and nightmares. Stones were rarely faceted; they were polished into smooth cabochons.
Posy rings
Posy rings carry a short inscription, a "poesy", usually engraved on the band. Medieval examples often speak in French, such as A ma vie ("for my life") or Vous et nul autre ("you and no other"). By around 1600 English took over, with lines like "Forget me not". They were given as love tokens and wedding rings.
Iconographic and devotional rings
In 15th-century England, iconographic rings carried engraved saints for protection. Our silver-gilt iconographic ring shows St Christopher, the Madonna and Child and St Barbara. Read the full story in Saints on the Hand.
Medieval signet rings
Medieval signets were often silver, engraved straight into the metal with a fleur-de-lys, initials or a merchant's mark, and used to seal documents.
Buying responsibly
Many medieval rings in Britain are found by metal detectorists. In England and Wales, a find of gold or silver over 300 years old may legally be Treasure and must be reported. Rings that were properly declared are recorded on the Portable Antiquities Scheme database, and a good dealer will share that record or the ring's collection history.
Available now
- Medieval gold pie-dish ring with garnet, c.1280
- 15th-century English iconographic ring
- Seljuk silver and niello ring, 11th–12th century
Browse our ancient and early jewellery.