169 - Set of four bronze rings. Medieval period, 6th–15th centuries.

Set of four bronze rings. Medieval period, 6th–15th centuries. Bronze with an oxidation patina. Provenance: Provenance: An important Catalan collection, assembled beginning in 1930. Family bequest from Ramon Martí Alsina and Ricard Martí Aguiló. An archaeological collection assembled beginning in the 1950s by successive generations of the family through purchases at European galleries and auction houses. Measurements: approximately 2 cm in diameter each. Set of four medieval bronze rings, of different types and featuring incised decorations. The first has a wide, flat band, decorated with epigraphic-looking symbols and linear motifs. The second, an open ring, has a smooth surface with signs of wear. The third features a rectangular setting decorated with geometric motifs reminiscent of epigraphic characters, while the fourth has a slightly convex band with incised geometric ornamentation. Rings were common items of personal adornment during the Middle Ages, featuring a wide variety of shapes and decorative styles. Some incorporated inscriptions, monograms, or religious and personal symbols, while others served a primarily ornamental function. The typological differences within this collection reflect the variety of formal solutions employed in medieval goldsmithing and metalwork.