Ring
ca.1500-1530 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This ring forms part of a group known as posy rings. The name is derived from the 'poesy' or motto usually engraved around the hoop. In medieval examples the posy is mostly engraved around the outside of the hoop but later examples find it on the inner surface. Rings with amatory inscriptions can be found from the fourteenth century and would have served as love gifts, betrothal and wedding rings. Documentary sources attest to their use in weddings, for example, in 1550 John Bowyer of Lincoln's Inn in London bought a ring for his bride inscribed DEUS NOS IUNXIT (God joins us together) along with their initials and date of marriage. Posy rings were also given to friends or used to mark significant occasions.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Gold, cast, engraved |
Brief description | Gold posy ring, English, about 1500-1530 |
Physical description | 'Posy' ring, gold, the circular hoop engraved with inscriptions in black lettering, on the exterior my.wordely.ioye+alle.my.trust, separated by a cross and stars; on the interior +hert.tought.lyfe.and.lust. |
Dimensions |
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Style | |
Marks and inscriptions | 'my.wordely.ioye'
'alle.my.trust'
hert.thought.lyfe.and.lust (inscribed on the interior and exterior of the hoop in black letter) |
Gallery label | POSY RING
Gold. Hoop, inscribed inside in black letter: +my.wordely.ioye+alle.my.trust+hert.tought.lyfe.and.lust
ENGLISH: early 16th century
895-1871
This is the full text from Bury, 1982, Case 32, Board L, no.22(1982) |
Object history | ex-Waterton. given to Waterton by the Bishop of Newcastle and Hexham. Historical significance: This ring forms part of a group known as posy rings. The name is derived from the 'poesy' or motto usually engraved around the hoop. In medieval examples the posy is mostly engraved around the outside of the hoop but later examples find it on the inner surface. Rings with amatory inscriptions can be found from the fourteenth century and would have served as love gifts, bethrothal and wedding rings. Posy rings were also given to friends or used to mark significant occasions. Posies, also known as 'resons' or 'chansons' can also be found on personal items such as gloves, handkerchiefs or painted on trencher plates. They were chosen by the giver or could be taken from published compendiums or commonplace books such as the 1658 "The Mysteries of Love or the Arts of Wooing" or "Love's Garland or Posies for Rings, Hand-kerchers and Gloves and such pretty tokens that Lovers send their Loves" (1674). Goldsmiths would also have kept rings in stock inscribed with a range of posies. |
Summary | This ring forms part of a group known as posy rings. The name is derived from the 'poesy' or motto usually engraved around the hoop. In medieval examples the posy is mostly engraved around the outside of the hoop but later examples find it on the inner surface. Rings with amatory inscriptions can be found from the fourteenth century and would have served as love gifts, betrothal and wedding rings. Documentary sources attest to their use in weddings, for example, in 1550 John Bowyer of Lincoln's Inn in London bought a ring for his bride inscribed DEUS NOS IUNXIT (God joins us together) along with their initials and date of marriage. Posy rings were also given to friends or used to mark significant occasions. |
Bibliographic references |
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Collection | |
Accession number | 895-1871 |
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Record created | September 26, 2005 |
Record URL |
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