★ Rare and Interesting ★

BEZEL OF A RARE EARLY MEDIEVAL GOLD ARCHITECTURAL RING Circa 6th-10th century AD (?). In the shape of a miniature building/temple with an arcade design (columns and round arches), the ‘roof’ made of silver/niello and iron (?); band hoop broken. Reminiscent of later Jewish wedding rings. Possibly an early prototype? L 10 mm, W 8 mm, H 11 mm; Gold and Silver/Niello! 3.00 g (total)

Austrian private collection, acquired in the 1980s-90s.