FINGER RING

Post Medieval gold posie finger ring. It has a D-shaped band with a flat inner side and a plain exterior. Previously circular in plan it is now distorted to a pirifom (teardrop) shape with two indents on the top edge near the bend. The interior is inscribed with a 'posie': 'Godly love will not remove' followed by a stamped makers mark of the raised capital letters JK within a recessed rectangular cell. It is now 21.5 by 18.6mm in external diameter, 1.1mm thick and 3.2mm wide; it weighs 2.57 grams.

Posy rings were popular love tokens and were often exchanged as betrothal or wedding gifts. They could have plain exteriors or be ornately decorated with enamel. Some like this example have maker's marks on the inner side but many do not. The ring is similar in form and writing style to other posy rings such as 2007 T284 from Lincolnshire.

The makers mark (JK in rectangle) appears on two British Museum rings. 1961,1202.289 and AF.1315 (dated 1755-1764), the mark is not identified in any standard works of reference but is recorded on two mourning rings with dated inscriptions. The inscription; Godly love will not remove; appears on two British Museum posy rings: AF.1253 and AF.1252. AF.1253 has a maker's mark (RG) and is dated 17^th-18^th Century, AF.1252 has a maker's mark (ES) and is dated 1700-1737. The dating of this makers mark to 18^th century on British Museum examples and the fact that the inscription also has examples dating to 18^th Century indicates the ring can not be securely dated to pre-1710 and as such falls outside the provisions of the Treasure Act 1996.