Two medieval gold rings discovered by the same metal detectorist in northern England are heading to auction. Dating to the 15th century, one is decorated with droplets representing the blood of Christ, while the other depicts St Margaret of Antioch with a dragon.
The rings were discovered within four months of each other in 2024 at West Harlsey, near Northallerton in North Yorkshire, by Andrew Riley, a semi-retired architect who lives near Middlesbrough. They will be offered by Noonans Mayfair in London on September 22.
The first find, a gold enamelled “blood of Christ” ring dating from around 1400–1500, was originally decorated with 41 red enamel droplets against a blue enamel background. Twelve of the droplets still retain their red enamel. Inside the band is a black-letter inscription reading a vous ceruil uieil obeir, translated by Noonans as “In serving you I wish to obey”. The ring weighs 3.5 grams and has an auction estimate of £5,000–£7,000.
“I had methodically searched the rigg and furrow field over the course of a few weeks when I found the “blood of Christ” ring,” Riley recalls. “It was about 8 inches deep just laying on top of the soil after I had removed the clod, I thought it was just costume jewellery at first until I saw the inscription. I was on my own at the time so ran up to the farmhouse to show the landowner!”
Andrew Riley with his metal detector – photo courtesy Noonans
The imagery on the ring reflects changing patterns of Christian devotion in the later Middle Ages. “During the Medieval period there was a shift in tone in Christian devotion towards an emphasis on Christ’s bodily suffering in order to bring redemption to the world,” explains Laura Smith, Jewellery Specialist at Noonans. “There was a focus on the five wounds of the crucifixion and the blood shed by Christ, and this is seen in illustrations in manuscripts and in pieces of personal devotional jewellery, such as the first ring here.”
Smith also points to the importance of religious guilds during this period. ”Also at this time religious guilds were popular. One such was the Corpus Christi Guild at York which was founded in 1408 and by the dissolution had 17,000 members, including James Strangeways, a landowner close to where both rings were found.”
Photo courtesy Noonans
The second ring, also dating from around 1400–1500, has an oval bezel depicting St Margaret of Antioch, haloed and carrying a cross, with a dragon coiled at her feet. Its shoulders feature traces of white enamel and foliate decoration. Weighing 3.9 grams, the ring is expected to fetch £4,000–£6,000.
“Now considered a mythical figure, St Margaret of Antioch was highly venerated in the Medieval period and was supposed to have appeared to Joan of Arc in 1428,” Smith explains. “She was particularly called on by women experiencing childbirth. She was the daughter of a pagan priest but was inducted into the Christian faith by her wet nurse, who raised her after her mother died in childbirth. She pledged her virginity to Christ, which led to disownment by her father, and when she refused to marry the Roman governor, she was imprisoned.”
Smith continues: “She endured torture but survived by the power of various miracles. Her most famous involved Satan appearing in her prison cell in the form of a serpent or dragon and swallowing her. She burst forth from his belly after irritating his innards with the cross she carried; this led to her future association with childbirth. She was eventually beheaded.”
Both finds have been recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme and were subsequently disclaimed as Treasure. The “blood of Christ” ring is recorded as DUR-3F4083, while the St Margaret ring is DUR-B3B577.
After the auction finishes, Riley says, “I will share half the proceeds with the landowners, and I am planning to put the money I receive towards an interrailing trip to Italy.”
Two medieval gold rings discovered by the same metal detectorist in northern England are heading to auction. Dating to the 15th century, one is decorated with droplets representing the blood of Christ, while the other depicts St Margaret of Antioch with a dragon.
The rings were discovered within four months of each other in 2024 at West Harlsey, near Northallerton in North Yorkshire, by Andrew Riley, a semi-retired architect who lives near Middlesbrough. They will be offered by Noonans Mayfair in London on September 22.
The first find, a gold enamelled “blood of Christ” ring dating from around 1400–1500, was originally decorated with 41 red enamel droplets against a blue enamel background. Twelve of the droplets still retain their red enamel. Inside the band is a black-letter inscription reading a vous ceruil uieil obeir, translated by Noonans as “In serving you I wish to obey”. The ring weighs 3.5 grams and has an auction estimate of £5,000–£7,000.
“I had methodically searched the rigg and furrow field over the course of a few weeks when I found the “blood of Christ” ring,” Riley recalls. “It was about 8 inches deep just laying on top of the soil after I had removed the clod, I thought it was just costume jewellery at first until I saw the inscription. I was on my own at the time so ran up to the farmhouse to show the landowner!”
The imagery on the ring reflects changing patterns of Christian devotion in the later Middle Ages. “During the Medieval period there was a shift in tone in Christian devotion towards an emphasis on Christ’s bodily suffering in order to bring redemption to the world,” explains Laura Smith, Jewellery Specialist at Noonans. “There was a focus on the five wounds of the crucifixion and the blood shed by Christ, and this is seen in illustrations in manuscripts and in pieces of personal devotional jewellery, such as the first ring here.”
Smith also points to the importance of religious guilds during this period. ”Also at this time religious guilds were popular. One such was the Corpus Christi Guild at York which was founded in 1408 and by the dissolution had 17,000 members, including James Strangeways, a landowner close to where both rings were found.”
The second ring, also dating from around 1400–1500, has an oval bezel depicting St Margaret of Antioch, haloed and carrying a cross, with a dragon coiled at her feet. Its shoulders feature traces of white enamel and foliate decoration. Weighing 3.9 grams, the ring is expected to fetch £4,000–£6,000.
“Now considered a mythical figure, St Margaret of Antioch was highly venerated in the Medieval period and was supposed to have appeared to Joan of Arc in 1428,” Smith explains. “She was particularly called on by women experiencing childbirth. She was the daughter of a pagan priest but was inducted into the Christian faith by her wet nurse, who raised her after her mother died in childbirth. She pledged her virginity to Christ, which led to disownment by her father, and when she refused to marry the Roman governor, she was imprisoned.”
Smith continues: “She endured torture but survived by the power of various miracles. Her most famous involved Satan appearing in her prison cell in the form of a serpent or dragon and swallowing her. She burst forth from his belly after irritating his innards with the cross she carried; this led to her future association with childbirth. She was eventually beheaded.”
Both finds have been recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme and were subsequently disclaimed as Treasure. The “blood of Christ” ring is recorded as DUR-3F4083, while the St Margaret ring is DUR-B3B577.
After the auction finishes, Riley says, “I will share half the proceeds with the landowners, and I am planning to put the money I receive towards an interrailing trip to Italy.”
Click here to learn more about the Noonans auction
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