File:Early Medieval silver-gilt sword ring (FindID 564979).jpg

English: Report for H M Coroner Arreton, Isle of Wight: silver-gilt sword-ring and rivet head, c. 450-c. 650 AD (Treasure: 2013 T388; PAS: IOW-D7C5D2)

Description: Solid cast partly gilded silver sword-ring interlocking with an almost-closed cast partly gilded penannular silver ring-rivet, which would in turn have been attached to the pommel and upper guard of a sword hilt.

The free-running ring, with an outer diameter of 17.08mm, is sub-rectangular in cross-section. On its outer face is a deeply engraved band with a central reserved silver zig-zag in the centre; the opposing triangles are inlaid with niello, much of which is decomposed or missing. The circular faces are both deeply recessed, and have gilded chip-carved relief decoration. One circular face is decorated with nine evenly spaced raised S-shaped motifs set end to end; the opposite recessed side has two concentric V-section ridges separated by grooves.

The ring-rivet, with an outer diameter of 15.72mm, has similar decoration to that of the solid ring, including the silver zig-zag reserved against niello on the edge, and the double ridge on one face, but with only seven S-shaped motifs around the other face. Here the rest of the space is taken up with the terminals. At one end of the ring-rivet it narrows to a complete rectangular-section terminal, which probably slotted into the sword pommel. The other end has a broken-off square-section stub which may be the remains of a rivet shaft or spike fixing this end of the ring-rivet to the upper guard.

Within both rings the gilding within the sharp recesses is well preserved, but none can be seen elsewhere, suggesting that the gilding was only applied to the relief-decorated parts. Both outer faces, that of the solid ring noticeably more so than the ring-rivet, are worn. The inner and outer rims on both rings have small areas missing. All the breaks appear to be old.

Dimensions: Ring head: 15.72mm (outer diameter); 6.29mm (inner diameter); 4.02mm (thickness). Free running ring: 17.08mm (outer diameter); 6.90mm (inner diameter); 4.48mm (thickness). 21.57mm (overall length); overall weight: 6.18g.

Discussion: The sword-ring is from a pommel of a sword of Menghin's Bifrons-Gilton type which is dated to around 580-620 (Menghin 1983, 312-315). The sword-ring itself is of Evison's Type 1b, with penannular ring-rivet and solid, free-running ring. The distribution of this type is concentrated in Kent (Soulat 2008, 24, carte 2; 150, carte 16)although similar sword-rings have now also been found in Lincolnshire (PAS-273537, LIN-C99FE3) and elsewhere on the Isle of Wight (IOW-74F105, IOW-44CEA3 (number 4), IOW-358A74, IOW-FB5A95 (of type 1a) and IOW-945A73).

The nielloed triangle or zig-zag motif on the circumference is found in most examples, e.g. Bifrons 39 and 62; Dover C; Faversham 7; Finglesham 204; Gilton 3 (all illustrated in both Evison 1967 and Soulat 2008) and KENT-4E3EC0 and IOW-44CEA3.

The relief decoration on the faces is less easily paralleled, although there is an example from Shorwell, Isle of Wight with a single deep gilded groove on at least one face (IOW-44CEA3 no. 4).

The function of sword-rings is still uncertain. It has been suggested that they may have been given by kings and princes to members of their retinues as a reward for military service, possibly symbolising both the wearer's bond of loyalty to his lord and his high status or office (Evison 1967, 63).

Date: Sword-rings of type 1b appear to come into use in the later fifth century AD, replacing type 1a with a complete annular ring-rivet (e.g. IOW-FB5A95). They are the predominant type during the sixth century, but by the time that the Staffordshire Hoard is deposited (probably early in the second half of the seventh century) sword-rings appear to be of the type with immovable rings (e.g. StH 531, 543, 1204 and 1625). A broad date-range for this ring would therefore be c. 450-c. 650 AD.