Eleven beaded gold sheet rings
Gold sheet; Weight: 5.1–6.5 g each;
No exact parallels are currently known for the gold sheet rings with beaded decoration. In terms of their form and manufacturing technique, they are related to the beaded armlets that were widespread during the Roman period. These ultimately derive from Celtic knobbed bracelets and are attested by individual finds, such as the beaded bracelet from a 3rd-century AD female grave and the pair of bracelets from the Eauze treasure.
Technique and Preservation
The beaded rings are composed of two half-shells, each consisting of 21 beads of equal size. The sheet-metal strips, pressed over the same mould, were partially filled with a clay core, pressed together, and then soldered. Remnants of the clay filling survive.
The course of the inner and outer solder seams is irregular and lies mostly above the horizontal centre line. To allow ventilation during the soldering process, the exterior sheet-metal strips in the area of one to three beads were merely pressed together instead of being soldered.
On the inner side of the rings, horizontal incised lines, about 0.5–1 cm long and slightly offset from the centre line, were added after manufacture. These may have served as marks for subsequent working or finishing.
The rings, some of which are now crushed and deformed, represent unfinished products (semi-finished objects) and show no traces of wear. The original internal diameter of the rings was approximately 2.2 cm.
Quantity
11
Weight
64 g
Diameter
3.25 cm
Material
Gold
Hoard
