Ring
ca. 1810 (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 gold inscription on this ring records William Godsell, who died 12 October 1810, at the age of 39. The use of white enamel suggests that he may have been unmarried. The centre of the bezel holds a plaited section of William's hair.
The gold inscription on this ring records William Godsell, who died 12 October 1810, at the age of 39. The use of white enamel suggests that he may have been unmarried. The centre of the bezel holds a plaited section of William's hair.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Enamelled and engraved gold with plaited hair under glass |
Brief description | Gold mourning ring enamelled in black and white. The shaped rectangular bezel set with plaited hair. The border inscribed W M GODSELL. OB: 12.OCT: 1810 AET: 39 YS., England, about 1810. |
Physical description | Gold mourning ring enamelled in black and white. The shaped rectangular bezel set with plaited hair. The border inscribed W M GODSELL. OB: 12.OCT: 1810 AET: 39 YS. |
Dimensions |
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Marks and inscriptions | 'W M GODSELL. OB: 12.OCT: 1810 AET: 39 YS.' (Inscribed on border) |
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 gold inscription on this ring records William Godsell, who died 12 October 1810, at the age of 39. The use of white enamel suggests that he may have been unmarried. The centre of the bezel holds a plaited section of William's hair. |
Collection | |
Accession number | 889-1888 |
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Record created | May 4, 2006 |
Record URL |
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