Exeter’s museum acquires rare Anglo-Saxon gold ring

Exeter City Council's Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery (RAMM) is delighted to announce the acquisition of a precious gold ring dating back to the late Anglo-Saxon period. This remarkable addition to RAMM's collection is made possible through the generous support of the ACE/V&A Purchase Grant Fund, the Headley Trust, Erin Cox Jewellery, the Friends of RAMM, C James Cadbury CT, Julian Steer-Fowler, and an additional private donor.

The newly acquired Wembworthy ring will now become part of an exclusive group of Anglo-Saxon metalwork pieces within RAMM's holdings. Such artifacts from the Anglo-Saxon material culture are exceedingly rare in Devon, with only 18 such discoveries entering the museum's collection since 1970. These discoveries, unearthed by dedicated archaeologists and metal detectorists, encompass a variety of items, including clothing fasteners, harness mounts, a ring, a sword scabbard mount, and an enamel mount designed for a bowl or piece of furniture. The Wembworthy ring will proudly take its place among these significant finds, now available for public viewing.

This ring is set to make a substantial contribution to the collection, earning a permanent spot in RAMM's Making History gallery. Within this exhibit, it will feature prominently, illustrating the captivating diversity of Anglo-Saxon culture in Devon. The display will bring together a selection of personal metal objects discovered by metal detectorists over the past two decades, shedding light on this intriguing historical era.

The Wembworthy ring itself, though small in size, possesses an enchanting design consisting of intricately intertwined animals. RAMM is partnering with the University of Exeter's Digital Humanities Lab to create 3D scans and detailed imagery of the ring. This collaborative effort will allow the public to closely examine the ring's exquisite decoration, offering a unique opportunity to appreciate its craftsmanship.
 

Richard Pocock, chair of the Friends of RAMM who donated towards the ring’s acquisition said: “The Friends of RAMM are delighted to contribute to the purchase of this beautiful and historic ring. Considering its age, it is in remarkable condition. The fact it was discovered in Devon adds to its importance with respect to local history. It will be an important addition to RAMM's collection and we look forward to seeing it on display.’

Goldsmith Erin Cox, director of Erin Cox Jewellery in Topsham, also contributed towards the ring’s purchase. She said: “The Wembworthy ring caught my attention because of how absolutely beautiful it is. The story that it tells is a wonderfully human story that, as a maker, connects with me. I think it's really important to save objects like this and keep them local to where they were found. That was my interest in this piece specifically - that it stays close to home.”

Cllr Laura Wright, Exeter City Council Deputy Leader and lead Councillor for Culture said: “We are grateful to the funders and donors that have made the acquisition of this very rare and beautiful piece of history possible. It’s fantastic that the ring will soon be on display at RAMM for the public to enjoy.”