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Artefacts & named objects

63 objects — rings, jewels, palantíri, weapons, trees. Where a thing passed from hand to hand, its provenance is here: who held it when, and where that is written.

OverviewWhen they existedThe dated objects on one axis per age — and, named separately, those for which only the age is recorded.OverviewWho carried whatHolders and objects as one band — every bearer relation and every station of a provenance chain.

Colour = ageYears of the TreesFirst AgeSecond AgeThird Ageno date recorded

The Silmarils

Jewels

The three Jewels of Fëanor, holding the light of the Two Trees.

Show who held it — 10 stationsFëanorMorgothBerenCarcharothThingolBerenLúthien…

Years of the TreesFëanorCrafted the Silmarils in Valinor during the Years of the Trees.

Years of the TreesMorgothStole the jewels after destroying the Two Trees with Ungoliant, and set them in his iron crown.

First AgeBerenCut one Silmaril from Morgoth’s crown with Lúthien’s aid, as the bride-price set by Thingol — and lost it in the same hour.

First AgeCarcharothThe wolf of Angband bit off the hand that held the jewel and swallowed both. The Silmaril burned him from within until the Hunting of the Wolf in Doriath: “Then Mablung took a knife and ripped up the belly of the Wolf … and the Silmaril lay there unveiled” (Of Beren and Lúthien).

First AgeThingolReceived the jewel as the bride-price and had it set into the Nauglamír. The Dwarves of Nogrod slew him for it.

First AgeBerenWon the necklace back in the battle at Sarn Athrad: “wrested from him the Necklace of the Dwarves” — his last fight (Of the Ruin of Doriath).

First AgeLúthienWore the Nauglamír in Ossiriand. “the flame of the beauty of Lúthien as she wore it was too bright for mortal lands.”

First AgeDiorThingol’s heir: “Then Dior arose, and about his neck he clasped the Nauglamír.” The rumour of it brought the sons of Fëanor upon Doriath.

First AgeElwingDior’s daughter escaped the ruin of Doriath “bearing with them the Silmaril” to the mouths of Sirion.

First AgeEärendilBore the Silmaril upon his brow across the sky, where it still shines as the Evening and Morning Star.

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The One Ring

Rings

The Ruling Ring, forged by Sauron in the fires of Orodruin

Show who held it — 6 stationsSauronIsildurGollumBilbo BagginsFrodo BagginsSamwise Gamgee

S.A. c. 1600SauronForged in Orodruin

S.A. 3441IsildurCut from Sauron's hand

T.A. c. 2463Gollum

T.A. 2941Bilbo Baggins

T.A. 3001Frodo Baggins

T.A. 3019Samwise GamgeeCarried it for a few days after Cirith Ungol, believing Frodo dead, and gave it back — the only bearer who ever did so unbidden. “the Ring was not on him but hanging by its chain about his neck”.

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Ring of Barahir

Rings

Finrod's gift, heirloom of the House of Isildur

Show who held it — 6 stationsFinrod FelagundBarahirBerenElendilIsildurAragorn

First AgeFinrod FelagundToken of the House of Finarfin; given to Barahir in gratitude for saving his life.

First AgeBarahirFinrod Felagund gave him the ring as a token of an oath of friendship: “in token of his vow he gave to Barahir his ring” (Of the Ruin of Beleriand).

First AgeBerenTaken from his father Barahir's hand after Barahir's death; later served as proof of his quest before Thingol.

Second AgeElendilBrought from Númenor as an heirloom of his house after the Downfall.

Third AgeIsildurInherited as heirloom of the Kings of Arnor.

Third AgeAragornPreserved as heirloom of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain; worn openly once his identity was revealed.

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Palantír

Palantíri

The Seeing-Stones of Fëanor

Show who held it — 5 stationsOsgiliathSauronSarumanDenethor IIAragorn

Second AgeOsgiliathHeld the chief of the seven: “The chief and master of these was under the Dome of Stars at Osgiliath before its ruin” (The Palantíri, App. A).

T.A. 2002SauronSeized the Ithil-stone when the Nazgûl took Minas Ithil.

unknownSarumanKept the Orthanc-stone in Isengard until his fall.

unknownDenethor IIUsed the Anor-stone in secret, which hastened his despair.

T.A. 3019AragornClaimed the Orthanc-stone by right as Elendil's heir and used it to challenge Sauron.

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Elendilmir

Jewels

The white star-gem on a silver fillet, crown of the kings of Arnor, worn by Aragorn on the Pelennor

Show who held it — 4 stationsElendilIsildurValandilAragorn

unknownElendilBore the star-gem as token of royalty of the North-kingdom.

S.A. 3441IsildurWore it when he fell at the Gladden Fields, where it was lost.

Third AgeValandilA new Elendilmir was made for him by the Elven-smiths of Rivendell.

T.A. 3019AragornWore the Star of Elendil on his brow at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields and as King.

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The Arkenstone

Jewels

Heart of the Mountain

Show who held it — 3 stationsSmaugBilbo BagginsThorin Oakenshield

unknownSmaugLay unnoticed within the dragon's hoard after he seized the Mountain.

unknownBilbo BagginsTaken in secret during the burglary of the hoard and hidden until surrendered to Bard and Thranduil.

unknownThorin OakenshieldReturned after the Battle of Five Armies and laid upon his breast in his tomb beneath the Mountain.

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Mithril-coat

Bilbo's and Frodo's mail-shirt of true-silver from the hoard of Erebor

Show who held it — 3 stationsThorin OakenshieldBilbo BagginsFrodo Baggins

unknownThorin OakenshieldGave the coat to Bilbo from the hoard; it had been made long before for a young elf-prince.

T.A. 2941Bilbo BagginsWore it in the Battle of Five Armies; lent it to the Mathom-house at Michel Delving and fetched it back before leaving the Shire.

T.A. 3018Frodo BagginsGiven secretly at Rivendell; turned an orc-spear in Moria; taken from him in Cirith Ungol and shown by the Mouth of Sauron before the Black Gate, where Gandalf recovered it.

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Narsil

Named weapons

The Sword of Elendil, broken and reforged as Andúril

Show who held it — 3 stationsElendilIsildurAragorn

Second AgeElendilBore the sword in the Last Alliance; it broke beneath him when he fell. Isildur’s esquire “bore the shards of the sword of Elendil” to Rivendell (The Council of Elrond).

S.A. 3441IsildurIsildur kept the broken sword after Elendil's fall in the War of the Last Alliance, until his own death at the Gladden Fields.

T.A. c. 3018AragornThe shards, kept as an heirloom of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, were reforged in Rivendell as Andúril and given to Aragorn.

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Narya

Rings

The Ring of Fire, one of the Three Rings of the Elves

Show who held it — 3 stationsGil-galadCírdanGandalf

Second AgeGil-galadThe sources disagree, and Christopher Tolkien says so in the same breath: Celebrimbor entrusted Narya to Gil-galad in Lindon; “It is said here that at this time Gil-galad gave Narya, the Red Ring, to Círdan … but later in the narrative there is a marginal note that he kept it himself until he set out for the War of the Last Alliance” (Unfinished Tales).

unknownCírdanKept at the Grey Havens; the earlier chain of keeping (via Gil-galad) rests on posthumous accounts that differ in detail

T.A. c. 1000GandalfGiven to him by Círdan on his arrival in Middle-earth; borne until his departure over the Sea

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Nimloth

Trees

The White Tree of Númenor

Show who held it — 3 stationsNúmenorIsildurGondor

unknownNúmenorGrew in the King's courts at Armenelos as the White Tree of the royal house.

unknownIsildurA fruit was saved by Isildur at great personal risk before the tree was felled and burned on Sauron's counsel.

unknownGondorThe seedling grown from Isildur's rescued fruit became the White Tree of Gondor, planted first in Minas Ithil and later, from a second saved fruit, in the citadel of Minas Tirith.

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Phial of Galadriel

The crystal vessel holding the light of Eärendil's star, Galadriel's gift to Frodo

Show who held it — 3 stationsGaladrielFrodo BagginsSamwise Gamgee

unknownGaladrielCaught the light of Eärendil's star in the water of her fountain and gave the phial to Frodo at parting.

T.A. 3019Frodo BagginsCarried it into Mordor; held it aloft in Shelob's lair.

T.A. 3019Samwise GamgeeBore it against Shelob and the Watchers while Frodo lay captive, and returned it to him.

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The Red Book of Westmarch

Books

The framing manuscript behind The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings

Show who held it — 3 stationsBilbo BagginsFrodo BagginsSamwise Gamgee

T.A. 2941Bilbo BagginsBegun as Bilbo's private diary of his journey with Thorin's Company.

T.A. 3001Frodo BagginsInherited from Bilbo at Bag End; continued and largely completed by Frodo.

T.A. 3021Samwise GamgeeGiven to Sam by Frodo before Frodo's departure over the Sea; Sam added the final pages.

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Sting

Named weapons

Bilbo and Frodo's Elvish blade from Gondolin

Show who held it — 3 stationsBilbo BagginsFrodo BagginsSamwise Gamgee

T.A. 2941Bilbo BagginsFound in a troll-hoard during the journey to Erebor; later named after Bilbo killed a giant spider with it in Mirkwood.

T.A. c. 3018Frodo BagginsGiven to Frodo by Bilbo at Rivendell before the Fellowship set out; carried throughout the quest to Mount Doom, including the fight against Shelob.

T.A. c. 3021Samwise GamgeeGiven to Sam by Frodo as a parting gift before Frodo left over the Sea.

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Book of Mazarbul

Books

The scorched chronicle of Balin's colony, found on his tomb in Moria

Show who held it — 2 stationsBalinGimli

T.A. 2989BalinLord of Moria; the book records his colony from its coming to its end.

T.A. 3019GimliReceived it from Gandalf to bring back to Dáin.

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Elfstone

Jewels

The green gem in an eagle-brooch that Galadriel gave Aragorn, and the name he took from it

Show who held it — 2 stationsGaladrielAragorn

unknownGaladrielHad given the stone to her daughter Celebrían, whence it came to Arwen; Galadriel handed it to Aragorn in Arwen's stead as a token of hope.

T.A. 3019AragornPinned the brooch on his breast and took the name Elessar; wore it as King.

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Horn of Gondor

Horns

Heirloom horn of the Stewards of Gondor, sounded by Boromir at Rivendell and Amon Hen.

Show who held it — 2 stationsBoromirDenethor II

unknownBoromirCarried as heir of the Ruling Steward; wound it at the Fellowship's departure from Rivendell and in his final stand at Amon Hen, where it was broken.

unknownDenethor IIThe two halves of the broken horn were later found and brought to Minas Tirith, confirming Boromir's death before Faramir's return.

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Horn of the Mark

Horns

The silver horn from Scatha's hoard that Éowyn gave Merry, blown to rouse the Shire

Show who held it — 2 stationsÉowynMeriadoc Brandybuck

unknownÉowynGave it to Merry at the parting in Edoras as an heirloom of her house.

T.A. 3019Meriadoc BrandybuckBlew it at Bywater to raise the Shire against Sharkey's Men.

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Key of Orthanc

The key Gandalf demanded of Saruman and the Ents finally took from him

Show who held it — 2 stationsSarumanAragorn

T.A. 2759SarumanReceived the keys from Beren, Steward of Gondor, in 2759; refused to surrender them to Gandalf; made by the Ents to lock the tower and give them up.

T.A. 3019AragornQuickbeam handed the two great black keys to Aragorn on his return north after the coronation.

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Red Arrow

Gondor's token of war, brought by Hirgon to summon the Rohirrim

Show who held it — 2 stationsHirgonThéoden

T.A. 3019HirgonDenethor's errand-rider; brought the arrow to Théoden at Dunharrow and was slain on the road back.

T.A. 3019ThéodenReceived it as a summons long expected and dreaded, and rode to Gondor.

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Sceptre of Annúminas

The silver rod of the kings of Arnor, kept at Rivendell and given to Aragorn by Elrond

Show who held it — 2 stationsElrondAragorn

unknownElrondKept it at Rivendell with the heirlooms of the heirs of Isildur.

T.A. 3019AragornReceived it from Elrond at Midsummer in Minas Tirith, together with Arwen's hand.

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Vilya

Rings

The Ring of Air, mightiest of the Three

Show who held it — 2 stationsGil-galadElrond

unknownGil-galadThe transfer to Elrond is told in posthumous accounts, which differ on the occasion (founding of Imladris or before the Last Alliance)

unknownElrondOpenly worn at the Grey Havens at his departure over the Sea

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Aeglos

Named weapons

Gil-galad's spear, called “Snow-point”

Show who held it — 1 stationGil-galad

unknownGil-galad

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Andúril

Named weapons

The sword reforged from the shards of Narsil for Aragorn.

Show who held it — 1 stationAragorn

T.A. c. 3018AragornReforged for Aragorn at Rivendell shortly before he departed with the Fellowship.

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Belthronding

Named weapons

bow of Beleg Cúthalion, laid with him in the grave

Show who held it — 1 stationBeleg

unknownBeleg

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Dragon-helm of Dor-lómin

Named weapons

heirloom of the House of Hador, worn by Túrin

Show who held it — 1 stationHador

unknownHador

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Glamdring

Named weapons

The ancient elvish blade wielded by Gandalf, forged for the King of Gondolin.

Show who held it — 1 stationGandalf

T.A. 2941GandalfTaken by Gandalf from a troll-hoard; later identified in Rivendell as a blade of Gondolin.

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Grond

Named weapons

The Hammer of the Underworld

Show who held it — 1 stationWitch-king of Angmar

15 March, T.A. 3019Witch-king of AngmarCommanded the assault that drove Grond against the Gate of Minas Tirith.

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Gúthwinë

Named weapons

Éomer's sword, named in the sortie at Helm's Deep

Show who held it — 1 stationÉomer

unknownÉomerDrew it beside Aragorn's Andúril in the sortie from the Hornburg.

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Herugrim

Named weapons

Théoden's ancient blade, locked away by Wormtongue and drawn again at Edoras

Show who held it — 1 stationThéoden

unknownThéodenReceived it from Háma after Gandalf roused him; bore it at Helm's Deep and on the Pelennor.

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Morgul-knife

Named weapons

The accursed blade with which the Witch-king stabbed Frodo on Weathertop

Show who held it — 1 stationWitch-king of Angmar

unknownWitch-king of AngmarWielded it against Frodo; the blade melted in daylight, the hilt remained.

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Nenya

Rings

The Ring of Water, borne by Galadriel

Show who held it — 1 stationGaladriel

unknownGaladrielWielded unseen in Lothlórien and revealed to Frodo; borne over the Sea at the end of the Third Age

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Orcrist

Named weapons

Thorin's Elvish sword from Gondolin, laid upon his tomb under the Lonely Mountain

Show who held it — 1 stationThorin Oakenshield

T.A. 2941Thorin OakenshieldTook it from the trolls' hoard; the goblins seized it in the Misty Mountains and Gandalf saved it; the Elvenking laid it on Thorin's tomb.

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Ringil

Named weapons

Fingolfin's blade

Show who held it — 1 stationFingolfin

unknownFingolfin

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