🔎 UNIDENTIFIED Can Anyone Identify These Two Ring-Like Metal Detecting Finds?

[Kunal22]

Hello everyone,

These two objects were found in the same forest, but on separate detecting trips roughly 12 months apart. One was recovered with a Vanquish 540 and the other with a Manticore.

At first glance they look ring-like, but I am not certain whether they are finger rings or parts of larger decorative items. Both appear to be made from a copper-alloy type metal and have decorative patterns.

As an additional observation, neither object was attracted to my neodymium fishing magnet when tested.

Any thoughts on identification, age, material, or possible use would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks.

Kunal.

 

[robertk]

Looks like rings to me. Probably brass or something along that line, probably used to be plated.

 

[Terry Soloman]

I agree with Robertk - Rings

 

[releventchair]

J.R.R. Tolkien​

(?)

“Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,​

― J.R.R. Tolkien

 

[dave_e]

Possible napkin rings

 

[Red-Coat]

@Kunal22 neglected to mention that he lives in a small island nation in the vicinity of India and Sri-Lanka (I’m guessing probably the Maldives).

Those look to be typical antique bronze jewellery rings (of indeterminate age) from that part of the world and were quite possibly made in Sri-Lanka.

There are a number of possible reasons why such rings from South Asian traditions are so small:

- They were often for wearing on the toes and known as ‘bichiya’.

- They were commonly crafted for children, and even infants.

- Adult rings were commonly worn on the ‘pinkie’ finger or the upper joints of the other fingers.

- Not all rings were designed to be worn on fingers or toes. Sometimes they were only attached to chains worn round the neck.