FINGER RING 1026901

Description: A complete gold posy/posie finger ring with inscription dating to the Post Medieval period, c.AD 1650-1800. The band is plain and slightly D-shaped in cross section with an inscription on the interior of the band reading: 'We.joine.our.love.in.Christ above' followed by the initials 'AB' in block capitals. The lettering is lowercase with serifs with flowing curling tails on the 'h' and 'b'. The 'J' and 's' are long flowing, hanging below the line of the text and the letter u is used in place of a v in above. There is a vertical incised line running from edge between the beginning of the inscription and the initials. Measurements: diameter: 21.67mm; width: 6.80mm; thickness of band: 1.67mm and weight: 6.83g. Discussion: Posie or posy rings were a popular form of finger-ring from the 16th to 18th centuries, usually a simple gold band engraved with a brief sentiment or poem inside. They were given by men and women as an expression of love, as a wedding ring or as a means of showing regard and friendship. This initials in this case probably relating to the betrothed. Lettering and inscriptions can be used to try and narrow the dating of a ring. Those with block capitals being earlier and the lettering becoming lower case and more cursive and italic during the course of the 17th century and into the 18th. The style of the engraved lettering on this example does suggest a date based upon paleographical indicators which include use of a long "s" and the substitutions of the letter u in place of v. These suggest a date prior to the standardisation of English spelling in the later 18th century. Other examples on the database with similar inscriptions date to the 18th century including: SUR-46BF7B and SUR-96052B (2018T863). Examples with a similar style of lettering include: SUSS-625F14 (2021T87); SUR-00A2F2 (2019T963). Joan Evans (1931, English Posies and Posy Rings, 106) notes one with a similar inscription, then in her father John Evan’s collection. This is now BM 1931,1202.58. This ring is marked and has also been dated circa 1600.

Date: 1650 - 1800

Object type: FINGER RING

Last import: September 22, 2022