A stunning medieval bishop's ring, dating from the late 12th to early 13th Century, is expected to fetch up to £18,000 at auction. Retired firefighter Mark Sell discovered the ring in a field at King Row, Shipdham, Norfolk, in 2019. Using a metal detector, Sell unearthed the artifact approximately nine inches below the surface. The ring, featuring a central hexagonal cabochon sapphire flanked by two emeralds and two garnets, initially went on display at the British Museum.
The auction is scheduled to take place at Noonans Mayfair on 26 March. The proceeds from the sale will be divided between Sell and the landowner. Laura Smith, a jewellery expert at Noonans Mayfair, emphasized the historical significance of both the ring and its discovery site.
"The village of Shipdham was well established by the time of the Norman Conquest, extensively detailed in the Domesday Book of 1086, and at that time recorded as being within the largest 20% of settlements in England." – Laura Smith, jewellery expert at Noonans Mayfair
Sell had been exploring the field several times before without significant findings. The breakthrough came when he noticed a glint of gold amid the earth.
"I was amazed to see a thin line of gold in the clod of mud that I had dug up, and as I wiped away the mud, I could see the bezel of a medieval gold jewelled ring," – Mark Sell
Smith elaborated on the ring's design and historical context.
"This form of Medieval ring, with a principal cabochon stone – usually a sapphire – surrounded by smaller collet set satellite stones (garnets or rubies, and emeralds), can be securely dated to the late 12th or early 13th Century, and is associated with the bishopric." – Laura Smith, jewellery expert at Noonans Mayfair
The discovery not only highlights the rich history of Shipdham but also underscores the village's significance during medieval times. As an established settlement recorded in the Domesday Book, Shipdham was among England's largest communities post-Norman Conquest.
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