Jewellery, Watches and Objects of Vertu

A silver gilt ring, circa 1500, the hoop of D-shaped cross section, the two longitudinal slightly concave facets divided by a raised flat ridge, one facet incised with a heart between veined leaves, the other with two hearts with four petalled flower between, the shoulders of raised flat panel form, one side depicting a heart with three tears with a crown below, the opposing panel with a four petalled flower above a crown, diameter of shank 23mm. £400-£600

This ring was discovered in a garden in Sprowston, Norfolk, in 1962 and is recorded on the Portable Antiquities Scheme database Ref: NMS-3BA008.

The use of hearts with tears suggests a betrothal ring rather than a sacred heart.