Ring thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Jewellery, Rooms 91, The William and Judith Bollinger Gallery

Ring

ca. 1779 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

From the early seventeenth to the end of the nineteenth century, testators left money in their wills to have rings with commemorative inscriptions made and distributed to their friends and families. Simple bands enamelled with the name and life dates of the deceased were frequently made, sometimes set with a gemstone or a bezel set with a rock crystal covering a symbol such as a coffin or initials in gold wire. In the later 18th century, rings followed neo-classical designs, their oval bezels often decorated with the same designs as funerary monuments such as urns, broken pillars and mourning figures. Hair from the deceased was sometimes incorporated into the designs or set in a compartment at the back of the ring to give each jewel a uniquely personal element. Black or white enamel were favoured though white enamel was often, though not universally used to commemorate children and unmarried adults.

This is a memorial ring for several people. It is enamelled in a funerary black and inscribed on the bezel with the name 'Daniel' and the Latin inscription, 'Samuel Myers died 10 August 1777 aged 62'; outside the hoop the Latin inscription, 'Martha Myers died 8 October 1779 aged 58', and inside 'Died 25 August aged 61'


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Engraved and enamelled gold
Brief description
Gold mourning ring enamelled in black. The oval bezel is enamelled with an inscribed urn. Further inscriptions surround the urn and are on both sides of the hoop, England, about 1779.
Physical description
Gold mourning ring enamelled in black. The oval bezel is enamelled with an urn inscribed DANL. DANIEL surrounded by MARTHA. MYERS. OB:8.OCT: 1779. AET 58. The hoop inscribed SAML. MYERS. OB: 10.AUG: 1777. AET:62. and behind Obt 25 Augt (erased) Ae 61
Dimensions
  • Height: 2.2cm
  • Width: 2.1cm
  • Depth: 1.6cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • inscribed DANL. DANIEL surrounded by MARTHA. MYERS. OB:8.OCT: 1779. AET 58.
  • inscribed SAML. MYERS. OB: 10.AUG: 1777. AET:62. and behind Obt 25 Augt (erased) Ae 61 (The hoop;)
Object history
Part of a group of memorial and mourning jewels bought from Dr Marco Guastalla, acting on behalf of 'an English lady residing in Italy' (museum numbers 846-1888 to 989-1888)
Subjects depicted
Summary
From the early seventeenth to the end of the nineteenth century, testators left money in their wills to have rings with commemorative inscriptions made and distributed to their friends and families. Simple bands enamelled with the name and life dates of the deceased were frequently made, sometimes set with a gemstone or a bezel set with a rock crystal covering a symbol such as a coffin or initials in gold wire. In the later 18th century, rings followed neo-classical designs, their oval bezels often decorated with the same designs as funerary monuments such as urns, broken pillars and mourning figures. Hair from the deceased was sometimes incorporated into the designs or set in a compartment at the back of the ring to give each jewel a uniquely personal element. Black or white enamel were favoured though white enamel was often, though not universally used to commemorate children and unmarried adults.

This is a memorial ring for several people. It is enamelled in a funerary black and inscribed on the bezel with the name 'Daniel' and the Latin inscription, 'Samuel Myers died 10 August 1777 aged 62'; outside the hoop the Latin inscription, 'Martha Myers died 8 October 1779 aged 58', and inside 'Died 25 August aged 61'
Collection
Accession number
852-1888

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Record createdApril 25, 2006
Record URL
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