Rights Holder: Somerset County Council
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Unique ID: SOM-4574A3
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
Post Medieval gold mourning finger ring, dating to AD 1667.
The ring has a D shaped cross section with a flat inner side. On the outer side is engraved a skull facing left, the eyes, nose hole, upper jaw and back of the skull are all indicated, the upper part of the head and are lower jaw not shown as they would be above and below the line of the band. On the inner side is inscribed .H.S. obiit 17 Aprill 67 followed by the makers mark of an S within a square. H.S. being the initials of the deceased who died on 17th april 1667. It is 18.4mm in diameter, 1.5mm thick and 3.07 grams.
This is a common design for mourning rings in the later 17th century and many similar examples are recorded on our database: KENT-419E80 (2011 T611), NMS-9E1EF8 (2010 T585), BH-4B0E12 (2007 T16), LON-82B904 (2009 T92) etc. The engraved lines may have previously contained black enamel. Such a plain makers mark is hard to assign with certainty. It is not listed in Jackson's study of English Goldsmiths and their Marks (1949) however the study is mainly concerned with plate and lists fewer jewelery makers. During the 17th century it was common for people to leave money in their wills for mourning rings to be made for close relations and friends.
Notes:
Beacause this ring was found over 20 years ago. Before the introduction of the 1996 Treasure Act its finding comes under the old law of Treasure Trove. Under Treasure Trove items were only considered as Treasure if they were buried with the intention to recover. Single items are not normally considered to fullfil this requirement being considered chance loses unless there is other evidence which suggests an intention to recover.
This item was, according to the finder, previously reported to Thornbury Museum who may have a seperate record of it.
Inscription:
.H.S. obiit 17 Aprill 67
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1667
Date to: Circa AD 1667
Quantity: 1
Thickness: 1.5 mm
Weight: 3.07 g
Diameter: 18.4 mm
Date(s) of discovery: Monday 1st January 1990
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Primary material: Gold
Manufacture method: Cast
Decoration style: Figurative
Completeness: Complete
Grid reference source: From a paper map
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
No references cited so far.