# Fulford ring

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The **Fulford ring** is a medieval gold ring with emerald and ruby settings found by metal detectorist Paul Ibbotson in December 2016.[1][2][3] It was acquired by the [Yorkshire Museum](/source/Yorkshire_Museum) in 2019.[1]

## Description

The ring is complete and dates to the 15th Century AD. It has a ruby and an emerald set into the double-bezel and floriate, chip-carved decoration on each side of the band. The side decoration was originally filled with [niello](/source/Niello). It measures 19.7 mm in length, 7.1 mm in width and has an internal diameter of 15.6 mm. It weighs 4.42 g. [X-ray fluorescence](/source/X-ray_fluorescence) of the metal indicated that the ring had a surface composition of approximately 76–79% gold, 12–15% silver, the rest being copper (c. 8–10%). [Raman spectroscopy](/source/Raman_spectroscopy) was used to identify the gem stones.[1]

## Significance

The ring probably functioned as a [love token](/source/Love_token) or [betrothal](/source/Betrothal) ring. Medieval lapidaries suggest that emeralds were associated with chastity and rubies with love and prevention of anger, which may have been important qualities in a medieval relationship.[3]

## Acquisition and display

The ring was bought by [York Museums Trust](/source/York_Museums_Trust) in 2019 for £20,000 with funding from the Headley Museums Archaeological Acquisition Fund, the [Arts Council England](/source/Arts_Council_England)/[V&A Purchase Grant Fund](/source/Victoria_and_Albert_Museum), and public donations. The ring first went on public display in the Yorkshire Museum in September 2019.[3]

## References

1. ["FINGER RING: YORYM-DE9DA0"](https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/825168). [Portable Antiquities Scheme](/source/Portable_Antiquities_Scheme). Retrieved 18 June 2019.

1. Laycock, M. (12 August 2017). [""Oh my God, this is the find of a lifetime!"- detectorist's reaction when he finds this ring in a York field"](https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/15469076.oh-my-god-this-is-the-find-of-a-lifetime-detectorists-reaction-when-he-finds-this-ring-in-a-york-field/). *The Press*. Retrieved 18 June 2019.

1. ["Buried in Fulford for 500 years, this gold ring could have belonged to royalty"](https://www.yorkmix.com/buried-in-fulford-for-500-years-this-gold-ring-could-have-belonged-to-royalty/). *YorkMix*. 7 January 2019.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Fulford ring](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulford_ring) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulford_ring?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.