A rare medieval ring, believed to have belonged to a bishop from the late 12th to early 13th century, is set to be auctioned in London later this month, with an estimated value of £18,000. The gold ring, featuring a central hexagonal sapphire surrounded by two emeralds and two garnets, was uncovered in Norfolk by detectorist and retired firefighter Mark Sell.
The discovery was made in November 2019 on King Row, a street in the village of Shipdham. Upon finding the ring, Sell promptly reported it to the landowner, and the artifact was then handed over to the local Finds Liaison Officer for further investigation. The British Museum and Norwich Castle Museum undertook the treasure process, during which the ring was briefly displayed to the public at the British Museum.
The ring will be offered for sale at Noonans Mayfair auction house on March 26, 2025, with the proceeds to be shared between Sell and the landowner.
Sell recounted the moment of discovery, saying, “I was amazed to see a thin line of gold in the clod of mud that I had dug up. As I wiped away the mud, I could see the bezel of a medieval gold jeweled ring. I could also see that all the original jewels were still in place and that the ring was in pristine condition.”
Sell, who had been metal detecting for a couple of hours with a friend, described the faint signal that led him to dig down about nine inches, finding what he called “the best item I have found so far.”
Jewelry expert Laura Smith from Noonans Mayfair provided insight into the ring’s historical significance, explaining that Shipdham was a well-established village by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066 and was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as one of the largest 20% of settlements in England. Smith also noted that the design of the ring, with a principal sapphire stone surrounded by smaller garnets, rubies, and emeralds, dates securely to the late 12th or early 13th century and is strongly associated with the bishopric.
The sale of this medieval artifact offers a rare glimpse into the jewelry of the period and the ecclesiastical wealth of the time.
