Merovingian Gold Ring | Carnelian Cabochon, Granulation, Braided Wire

Western Europe, Frankish, Merovingian period. Early Medieval, Merovingian (Frankish), ca. 5th–8th century CE. A high-karat gold finger ring set with a deep red, translucent carnelian cabochon in a raised round bezel framed by fine granulation. Flared, collar-like terminals meet the bezel on either side, each finished with small triangular clusters of granules. Beyond the shoulders, the exterior of the hoop is wrapped in braided gold wire so the band reads as a twisted cord, while the inner face stays smooth. Granulation, wirework and a polished red stone are typical of early medieval Frankish goldsmithing, and the ring was likely made as a prestige ornament for a person of means. Merovingian goldsmiths took over the late Roman taste for gold paired with red stones and made it their own. In the ateliers of the Frankish kingdoms, granulation and twisted or plaited wire were favored ways to give texture to small ornaments, and rings like this one were worn as signs of rank and wealth. The ring's gold has been measured at about 67.6 percent purity, or roughly 16 karats. That figure fits the period: Merovingian gold supplies steadily diluted with silver over the course of the seventh century, a trend recorded most clearly in the falling fineness of the Frankish gold tremissis coin. Item # 205482

Estimate:$1,500

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