Cut steel ring

Cut steel consists of faceted studs of steel either screwed (Woodstock, earlier) or riveted (Birmingham, later) to a baseplate to create articles such as shoe buckles, buttons, and some jewellery. This piece may have come from a broach, and because the baseplate was made of brass it was a simple matter to solder a ring to it. John Gooddy believed that the technique evolved when armourers had to find a new direction for their skills following the arrival of firearms