Mourning ring, inscribed in reserve gold letters on black enamel 'Wm HUTCHINSON. ESQ: OB: 17. DEC: 1808: AE 48'. England, York, 1808, made by Robert Cattle and J. Barber.

Wide gold band enamelled in black with gold reserve letters around the centre of the hoop. Narrow bands of black enamel around the top and bottom of the outer hoop.

Given by the Rev. R. Brooke

Part of the Brooke collection donated to the V&A in 1864. The Brooke collection includes objects relating to the Brooke family along with the Osbaldestons, who were closely related.

“The Reverend R. Brooke, Gateforth House, Selby, presented, in February 1864, a collection of articles of personal use of the 17th and 18th centuries, being the accumulated memorials of an English family for three or four generations; the most important are watches, rings, seals, lace and court dresses; the total number of objects is 396.” The gift also included 718 books for the new National Art Library. Brooke stipulated that the collection should be kept together and labelled as the ‘Brooke of Gateforth Gift’. (Eighteenth Report of the Science and Art Department of the Committee of Council on Education, London, 1865, pp.40-41).

The minutes also stipulate “That Mr and Mrs Brooke, and the future possessors of the ‘Gateforth Estate’, provided they bear the name and are of the present family of ‘Brooke’, to have the privilege secured to them (by memorandum recorded in the Books of the Museum, and by possession of a Free Pass Ticket) of entrance into the Museum and Library and the Horticultural Gardens attached, on the holding of any scientific or other meetings, and on all other public occasions.’

Michael Baggott in his 'Illustrated Guide to York Hallmarks 1776-1858' notes the following: "Occasionally an incuse version of the date letter will occur (the letters 'a' and 'b' for 1812-14), which in the past caused some confusion..... The explanation for the use of these incuse marks is a simple one. Small incuse punches were favoured at York for the assay of gold, but on occasion when a small punch was required to be struck (or if no other punch was to hand) then the incuse punch meant for gold would be struck on silver"
Robert Cattle was originally in partnership with George Cattle, John Hampston and John Prince. He took James Barber into partnership in 1808 and the partnership was dissolved in 1814.

From medieval times until the early twentieth century, it was customary to remember a deceased friend or relative by wearing a ring as a token. Wills from the sixteenth century onwards would often leave money to buy rings for mourners. Mass production of mourning rings began in the early nineteenth century. Rings were often kept in stock by jewellers and personalised through the addition of inscriptions on the inside of the hoop. However, this ring has clearly been made to order as the name and life dates of William Hutchinson are set out in gold letters on the black enamelled band. The custom of giving and wearing mourning rings gradually declined in the early twentieth century.

This ring was made by the York firm of Barber, Cattle and North. Robert Cattle was originally in partnership with George Cattle, John Hampston and John Prince. He took James Barber into partnership in 1808 and the partnership was dissolved in 1814.

652-1864