ANCIENT GOLD RING, FOUND AT NORMANTON-BY-DERBY. 219 
of dark coloured earth, whereas the soil of the field beyond is 
common yellow clay. * 
The ring itself is of the purest gold, the workmanship very 
rude, the design—a roughly twisted cable widening into a flat 
round signet. The contrast, however, between the careless general 
design, and the engraving of the signet, is most marked. Nothing 
could be more exquisitely finished than the sharp details of the 
engraving, which is cut in the solid gold. The work is as fresh 
and clean as though executed yesterday. The device represents 
S. Michael, with shield and spear, trampling and transfixing the 
dragon ; the minutest detail of features, feathers, or scales, being 
carved with a wondrous care and skill. 
Thanks to the valuable information supplied by the work upon 
“ Finger-ring Lore,” by Mr. William Jones, F.S.A., to whom I 
have also had the advantage of submitting a wax impression of 
the ring ; there is no hesitation in pronouncing it to be a religious 
or ecclesiastical ring, belonging to medieval times. At first sight, 
the rudely executed design of the shank would almost sug- 
gest an earlier period for its production,* but comparison with 
other rings, and the unanimous opinion of several other good 
authorities who have been consulted, all lead to the same con- 
clusion,—namely, that this ring was probably made early in the 
fourteenth century. It is a good specimen of the work of a good 
period, for, to quote from “ Finger-ring Lore”—‘‘It was in the 
middle ages, after a period of comparative mediocrity, that the 
greatest degree of perfection in goldsmiths’ work, especially in rings, 
began to display itself.”’ 
After seeing the wax impression of our ring, Mr. Jones was in- 
clined to pronounce the subject of the engraving to be S. George 
and the dragon, on the ground that the shield is that of S. George. 
Without presuming to dispute the opinion of so high an authority, 
I think I may venture to point out that the shield of S. Michael is 
often represented as bearing the cross usually attributed specially to 
* Rock crystal was in use among the Romans for carving solid finger-rings, 
whose shanks were moulded into a twisted cable. 
