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Rings from the Earliest Period: English

To the practice of English ladies wearing, formerly, the wedding-ring on the thumb I have alluded in the chapter on 'Betrothal and Wedding-rings.' Dr. Thomas Chalmers wore the ring of his great-greatgreat-grandfather, John Alexander, on his thumb. 'Oriental rings,' remarks the Rev. C. W. King, 'exactly like the ancient in shape, and made of cornelian, chalcedony, and agate, with legends in Arabic on the face, for the use of signets, are by no means uncommon in collections. They are of large size, being designed to be worn on the thumb of the right hand, in order to be used in drawing the bow-string, which the Orientals pull with the bent thumb, catching it against the shank of the ring, and not with the two first fingers, as is the practice of English archers.' HSC mm Brass Thumb-ring.

A brass seal-ring large enough for a man's thumb was found in Hampshire some years ago, and is noticed in the 'Gentleman's Magazine' vol. liv.