FINGER RING 784079

Description: A post-medieval gold mourning ring, D-shaped in cross-section and undecorated to the outside surface except for a stylised grooved skull. The inside of the hoop has the grooved inscription J:D: obijt th 31 July 93 followed by the maker's mark DA within a rectangle. The inscription reads upside-down if the skull is right-side up. The skull is depicted by circular eye sockets, a triangular nasal cavity and six square/ rectangular teeth between two curved lines, defining the edge of the skull. Two further curved grooves decorate the side to the right of the skull. The hoop is a little squashed, measuring 20.5x19.6mm in diameter (internal 18.1x17.0mm) and weighing 2.45g. It dates probably to 1693, mourning rings being quite popular at the end of the 17th century.

Date: 1693

Object type: FINGER RING

Last import: September 22, 2022