Ring thumbnail 1
Ring thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Ring

late 18th century (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. By the end of the 19th century, memorial ring designs were becoming more standardised. The hoops were often inscribed with phrases such as 'In memory' whilst a commemorative inscription could be added to the inside of the hoop. The custom of giving rings as memorials gradually declined in the early 20th century, although the Goldsmiths Journal suggests that some were still being sold in the 1930s.

This extremely plain ring lacks any mourning or religious imagery but is set with half-pearls, often found on mourning jewellery. The inscription on the back of the bezel records that it was made to commemorate Thomas Berrow, who died aged 62 on the 9 August, 1783.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Engraved gold with pearls and plaited hair under crystal
Brief description
Gold mourning ring set with pearls. The shaped convex rectangular bezel set with woven hair, bordered by half pearls. Inscribed behind Thomas/ Berrow./ died 9 Augt./ 1783/ Aged 62., England, late 18th century
Physical description
Gold mourning ring set with pearls. The shaped convex rectangular bezel set with woven hair, bordered by half pearls. Inscribed behindThomas/ Berrow./ died 9 Augt./ 1783/ Aged 62.. With forked shoulders with a leaf centre
Dimensions
  • Height: 2.5cm
  • Width: 2.2cm
  • Depth: 1.7cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • Inscribed Thomas/ Berrow./ died 9 Augt./ 1783/ Aged 62. (behind)
  • Unmarked
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. By the end of the 19th century, memorial ring designs were becoming more standardised. The hoops were often inscribed with phrases such as 'In memory' whilst a commemorative inscription could be added to the inside of the hoop. The custom of giving rings as memorials gradually declined in the early 20th century, although the Goldsmiths Journal suggests that some were still being sold in the 1930s.

This extremely plain ring lacks any mourning or religious imagery but is set with half-pearls, often found on mourning jewellery. The inscription on the back of the bezel records that it was made to commemorate Thomas Berrow, who died aged 62 on the 9 August, 1783.
Bibliographic reference
Oman, Charles, Catalogue of rings in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1930, reprinted Ipswich, 1993, cat. 843
Collection
Accession number
869-1888

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Record createdMay 4, 2006
Record URL
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