🔎 UNIDENTIFIED Ring ?

[Klowery]

Any clues as to what kind of ring this may be? Looks to be some kind of brass with a dark plating. No clue on inscription on face? Found in sw ohio near early 1800s farm

 

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[ARC]

Now... that's more what I had in mind. A Jesuit ring... and I would bet the 'PI' there stands for the "PIE JESU(S)" epithet I mentioned previously.

Those kinds of rings often have "I" (substituting for "J") as the second of two letters. I've seen "DI" for "DOMINUS JESU(S)" as well as "VI" and "NI" with unknown meaning, except that the 'I" again is likely for "JESU(S)"

Just haven't seen the three letters "PIE" together.

Yeah... that is why i posted it... i think this is the right track... it dawned on me that it may be Fur Trade related so.

 

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[Red-Coat]

Also "IN" as well i have seen.
In fact i own a tankard that is double touched that.

Yes, in the case of rings you can't tell for sure if it's "IN" or "NI", but if you have it on a tankard then you can be sure which way up it's supposed to be. Perhaps it's for "JESUS NOBILIS".... which actually works both ways round.

 

[Plug N Play]

Great sleuthing you two.
Everything seemed to be leading further and further from "Ohio", and the appearance of this ring.
Darn if you didn't bring it full circle and here we are back where things really start to make sense.
Amazing speculation and fore-thought, Red-Coat.
Amazing sleuthing and determination, Arc.

From Sacred to Profane: Style Drift in the Decoration of Jesuit Finger Rings | American Antiquity | Cambridge Core

From Sacred to Profane: Style Drift in the Decoration of Jesuit Finger Rings - Volume 37 Issue 2

www.cambridge.org

Engraved designs on French Jesuit finger rings from 14 historic sites of the Great Lakes area and the Mississippi Valley were examined. The wide variety of decorative motifs appearing on these rings is attributed to a stylistic drift occurring over a period of 60 yr. An estimated 95% of Jesuit ring designs from this area are traced to 3 prototypes. This paper demonstrates that rings with cast designs on round or oval bezels date between 1624 and 1700, while those with designs engraved on octagonal or heart-shaped bezels were current between 1700 and 1780. The process of stylistic drift and some of the variables conditioning the rate of style drift are considered.

 

[ARC]

Yes, in the case of rings you can't tell for sure if it's "IN" or "NI", but if you have it on a tankard then you can be sure which way up it's supposed to be. Perhaps it's for "JESUS NOBILIS".... which actually works both ways round.

yeah no mistaking "which way is up". heh

both marks are on top and bottom of handle.

 

[ARC]

Great sleuthing you two.
Everything seemed to be leading further and further from "Ohio", and the appearance of this ring.
Darn if you didn't bring it full circle and here we are back where things really start to make sense.
Amazing speculation and fore-thought, Red-Coat.
Amazing sleuthing and determination, Arc.

From Sacred to Profane: Style Drift in the Decoration of Jesuit Finger Rings | American Antiquity | Cambridge Core

From Sacred to Profane: Style Drift in the Decoration of Jesuit Finger Rings - Volume 37 Issue 2

www.cambridge.org

Engraved designs on French Jesuit finger rings from 14 historic sites of the Great Lakes area and the Mississippi Valley were examined. The wide variety of decorative motifs appearing on these rings is attributed to a stylistic drift occurring over a period of 60 yr. An estimated 95% of Jesuit ring designs from this area are traced to 3 prototypes. This paper demonstrates that rings with cast designs on round or oval bezels date between 1624 and 1700, while those with designs engraved on octagonal or heart-shaped bezels were current between 1700 and 1780. The process of stylistic drift and some of the variables conditioning the rate of style drift are considered.

Yeah... i am not thinking / convinced it is jesuit at all. heh

 

[ARC]

Yeah... i am not thinking / convinced it is jesuit at all. heh

With that said... and after further review and research...
I am gonna stand on / with my original conclusion...

Merchants Ring.

 

[Bramblefind]

What a great find! The first thing I would do if I found something like that is try to research the property owners / residents / neighbors and see if you can find anyone with the initials "P I (or J) E" - just to cross off that avenue (whether or not it leads anywhere).

 

[CRUSADER]

Ok... after some research... i am gonna throw this out there... this MAY / COULD BE...

A Medieval merchants era ring... used primarily in the 15th - 16th century.

Here is a comp.

View attachment 1989761

Well, it crossed my mind that it might fall into the 16th C-early 17th C bracket as I have found gold versions of this type & reported them to the British Museum.
Not saying this is 16th C but it has a few of the characteristics:
Right shaped Bezel
A single line boarder
Cast in one
Wax Seal type

This is definitely worthy of authentication.

Because it can only be 1 of 2 things:
The real deal!
A later copy in the version of. ie. an 18th-19th C copy.

 

[ARC]

Bump