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Masterpiece Medieval Crusader States / Kingdom of Jerusalem Silvered Bronze Finger Ring — Elevated Hatched Box Bezel with Inset Natural Red Carnelian / Jasper Stone Plaque (US Size 10.5 — c. 1100–1291 AD)
Authenticity & Guarantee
Item Specifications & Exact Dimensions
Object: Hand-Fabricated Silvered Bronze Box-Setting Finger Ring
Culture / Period: Medieval Crusader States / Kingdom of Jerusalem Sphere
Date Range: Circa 12th Century AD – 13th Century AD (c. 1100 – 1291 AD)
Ring Size: US Size 10.5 (Approx. 20.2 mm inner diameter)
Material: Cast Bronze (Copper Alloy) with original ancient silvering / tinning (argentatum) and inset natural oval red carnelian / jasper stone plaque
Form & Architecture: Slender round-section hoop expanding into raised shoulders supporting a prominent elevated oval box bezel (capsa); outer bezel collar features hand-cut diagonal hatched / chevron border engraving; holds a flat-cut oval deep-red stone plaque securely seated within the raised retaining rim
Condition: Exceptional, 100% complete medieval condition. Fully intact structural hoop and box bezel with original natural red stone fully preserved in place; retains original ancient silvering highlights across the dark charcoal-olive bronze matrix, accented by authentic pale sand-tan to cream calcareous burial deposits along the shoulders and bezel walls. Free of modern restoration or re-setting.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT & TYPOLOGICAL LORE
Crusader Metallurgy & Levantine Influence
During the 12th and 13th centuries in the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem, Frankish knights, military order officers, and Levantine artisans crafted luxury personal jewelry blending Western European gothic forms with Byzantine and Near Eastern metalworking traditions. Silvered bronze (bronzo argentato) provided the prestigious visual appearance of solid silver while offering superior durability for active campaigning, siege warfare, and travel across Holy Land garrison sites.
Hatched Box Settings & Red Stone Symbolism (US Size 10.5)
At a desirable large wearable US Size 10.5, this ring was engineered for an adult knight or high-ranking garrison officer. The diagonal hatched border (herringbone/chevron) cut into the elevated bezel wall provided structural reinforcement while catching ambient light. In Crusader Christian tradition, red stones (such as carnelian, garnet, or red jasper) held profound symbolic value, representing the blood of martyrs, divine courage, and spiritual warding during military operations in Jerusalem.
Typological Analysis & Exact Classification
Comparable Archaeological Examples & Museum Accession Numbers
Israel Museum, Jerusalem: Crusader period silvered bronze finger rings and box-bezel rings excavated from Jerusalem and Acre garrison layers.
British Museum (Accession No. 1856,0701.2272): Medieval Levantine / Crusader copper alloy ring with elevated box bezel and stone inset.
Louvre Museum (Inv. No. OA 4038): Crusader Kingdom noble ring with decorated box-setting collar.
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