Ring
ca. 1795 (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 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.
The inscription on this ring commemorates Jonathan Brown who died 24 November 1795, aged 66.
The inscription on this ring commemorates Jonathan Brown who died 24 November 1795, aged 66.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Enamelled and engraved gold |
Brief description | Gold mourning ring enamelled in black and white. Inscribed Jno Brown/ Ob.24.Novr/ 1795/ Aet:66., England, about 1792. |
Physical description | Gold mourning ring enamelled in black and white. The dished circular bezel is decorated with a white enamelled urn. Inscribed behind Jno Brown/ Ob.24.Novr/ 1795/ Aet:66. |
Dimensions |
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Marks and inscriptions | Inscribed Jno Brown/ Ob.24.Novr/ 1795/ Aet:66. (behind) |
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 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. The inscription on this ring commemorates Jonathan Brown who died 24 November 1795, aged 66. |
Bibliographic reference | Ward, Anne; Cherry, John; Gere, Charlotte; Cartlidge, Barbara, The Ring, London, 1981, p.121, cat. 264 |
Collection | |
Accession number | 877-1888 |
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Record created | May 3, 2006 |
Record URL |
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