“Unraveling Time: A Hidden Medieval Treasure Unearthed by a Metal Detectorist Fetches $24,000 at Auction!”
The village of Shipdham, where Sell found the ring, has a long and rich religious history. Established by the time of the 1066 Norman Conquest, it quickly grew to be one of the largest settlements in England. All Saints Church in Shipdham dates to the 12th century, and the Bishop of Ely built his manor house in the village during the reign of King Henry III (1207 to 1272).
Noonans MayfairAnother perspective of the medieval ring, which is adorned with a sapphire, emeralds, and rubies or garnets.
Because of this history, experts believe that the ring belonged to a bishop, specifically Hugh of Northwold (sometimes formatted Hugh de Northwold).
“This form of medieval ring, with a principal cabochon stone, usually a sapphire, surrounded by smaller collet set satellite stones (garnets or rubies, and emeralds), can be securely dated to the late 12th or early 13th century, and is associated with the bishopric,” Laura Smith, a jewelry expert at Noonans, explained. “Other similar rings include one belonging to Walter de Gray, the wealthy and powerful Archbishop of York — Archbishop from 1215 until his death in 1255 — which is on display at York Minster; as well as the Bishop of Chichester’s Ring and the Whithorn Cathedral ring.”
The proceeds from the ring will be divided between Sell and the owner of the land where the ring was found. For the moment, Sell, a former firefighter, hopes to use his portion of the money to “go on a special holiday.”
It goes to show that taking a metal detector on a walk can be a productive — and sometimes lucrative — hobby. In recent years, metal detectorists in England alone have come across a hoard of Roman coins, a 2,000-year-old Celtic figurine, and even a 500-year-old pendant celebrating the marriage between King Henry VIII and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon.
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