9th-10th century AD. A Carolingian or Ottonian flat-section gilt-bronze ring comprising; hoop with knop to the underside, elliptical bezel with dentilled edge clasping a keeled rock crystal insert. See Anglo-Saxon Amulets and Curing Stones, Meaney. A, BAR British Series 96, 1981. The magical properties of quartz have been recognised since the Neolithic and Bronze Age, where large quantities of pebbles are often associated with chambered tombs and burial mounds across sites in Britain, the Isle of Man and Ireland. In the Anglo-Saxon and Viking period the supernatural qualities of the stone continued and examples have been found in a number of contexts associated with burials, such as perforated beads often in the shape of spindle whorls, spheres of rock crystal mounted in metal bands and simple opaque white pebbles. Later Anglo-Saxon manuscripts discuss the virtues of quartz as protecting the wearer from diseases, toothache, lightning and the evil eye. 24 grams, 46mm overall, 20.69mm internal diameter (approximate size British W, USA 11, Europe 25.0, Japan 24) (1 3/4"). Property of a Middlesex gentleman; acquired in the 1980s.

Fine condition.