Getting on with the question of rings, some of which were manufactured for reasons other than adornment.

Ordinary curtain rings were well known to our ancestors. For example, in the Expenses of the Wardrobe of Edward 3rd --1345-49-- sixty rings of copper are mentioned; and again "a hundred rings" of copper, to be used in the construction of red curtains for the kings chamber. For a similar purpose two hundred copper rings are ordered for another time. We see such divisions of apartments in the drawings, which decorate old manuscripts; and it is evident that when large rooms were served for numerous purposes, such temporary partitions were indispensible. No doubt they resembled the divisions by curtains in shools in the 19th century; or the partitions in the large lodging-houses in that period. Certain carved statues in the front of Barneck Church, Northampton, of the time of Henry VI and Henry VII. stand each in front of a curtain with rings.

In the expenses of John of Brabant, and Thomas and Henry of Lancaster, c 1292-3, (taken from Camden Miscellany, II. 7.) mention is made of silver rings and thongs for bascinets (perambulators). There are other large rings, the use of which is uncertain. One of brass, an inch and five-eighths in diameter, was found in a womans grave, and may have served as an exempore brooch. Some coarse linen cloth was found along with it; and it is clear that, a piece of cloth drawn through the ring, a pin of any material could have been inserted across it. In many rings of this class, and in some buckles, a simple style of ornamentation can be seen.

The use of rings in matrimony has come down to us from the earliest Christian times. At present is is usually plain and of gold, but formally a frequent symbol was that of a serpent with its tail in its mouth, indicating affection in perpetuity. This gave origin to gymnal rings, which resembled the ordinary split rings for keys, exept that the two parts could be shown separately though joined like links, and formed a complete ring when joined together.

We now come to the question of earrings. Though earrings may not be more ancient than finger-rings, we notice a record of them at an earlier period. The servant of Abraham is said to have given a golden earring to Rebecca, but it is sometimes understood to have been an ornament for the forehead. At all events, earrings, which are known to nations of very different degrees of civilisation, were among the Israelites, Midianites, and Egyptians. The Assyrians also, especially the men, wore earrings, sometimes both massive and beautiful and the ladies of Greece and Rome wore earrings of great beauty. Among the Roman antiquities found at Reculver, in Kent, is a supposed ear-ring of gold; but its use was a little doubtful, in the fuller knowledge of antiquities in this modern age I wonder if that solution has been solved.

We remember that at Reculver the beautiful Anglo-Saxon church was demolished in the 19th century, for reasons best known to the landowner, but it was thought at the time that it barred the view from the hall or manor and was therefore ordered to be demolished. Today we call it vandalism! This resounds to the present day when history is demolished to make way for modern transport; not a thing changes much.

In Archaeologia, 33rd edition page 46, a pair of beautiful silver earrings can be seen, a Dr Lee in the Ionian Islands found these in 1812. Each opens and shuts by two hooks, and is embellished by three globules with elevated circles, like equators round them. A large drop ornament is suspended, surrounded and intersected by elegant filigree work, with an ornament in three of the quadrants, which unite in a pyramid. Among the Faussett antiquities, earring of silver were extremely common; they were found in seventeen of the Kingston graves, in seven at Sibertswold and in others at Gilton and Barfriston. I have not been able to ascertain where these now rest; I would appreciate any information to complete my study of this subject.

Earrings of bronze were also known; and one of this material was found among the Anglo-Saxon objects at Fairford, in Gloucestershire, in the 19th century. Among the Anglo-Saxon and kindred nations it would appear that earrings were almost confined to females. In most of the instances mentioned by Faussett, he states that they were found in a woman's grave; and several circumstances lead to the conclusion that the Frankish warrior just alluded to was an Amazon.

In some antiquities from Italy, Syria, and Mecklenburg, all the female figures had their ears pierced and each had a loop at the back of the head for suspension of similar ornaments. An ornament in gold, supposed to have been an ear-ring, was discovered in Suffolk sometime before 1863, and a silver ear-ring at Bury St Edmunds, both supposed to be Saxon. The gold ring was formed with several round wires, twisted like a rope, tapering towards the extremities, which were united together, forming a ring or hook, to which a smaller ring or hook might be adjusted for suspension to the ear.

We are sometimes surprised at the nature of the objects, which are called earrings, for we think of only our own methods of insertion and suspension. The knotted rings were no doubt loosed, and fastened again after being passed through the ear; and, when open, an old pendant could be removed and replaced by a new one. The huge variety of earring types is too numerous to mention. It is difficult to appreciate the beauty of some of these ancient artifacts. We as metal detectorists are somewhat restricted to the upper surface of soil, certainly not more than a few inches as far as this subject is concerned, no matter what claims have been made that this or that was recovered at 12 to 15 inches for small items as ear-rings, what frequently happens is that during the recovery of such delicate items they can follow the soil down to a level that makes the claim ridiculously deep. It has happened to me at frequent intervals.