The Ornamented Being
Ornamented: -verb: Adorn; beautify. Be·ing: -noun: Fulfillment of possibilities; essential completeness.
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I’m sure someone will reblog this and be negative about it but I don’t really care. My mother is a strong woman and I am proud to take after her. She raised me to be very independent and it’s one of the reasons I was able to say farewell to my home and move to London alone. I have always known that if I was ever trapped in a tower I wouldn’t need a prince to rescue me, I can save myself.
That said I hope that one day I will find a man who will say something like what is inscribed on this ring. Who knows maybe I will find him and maybe I won’t. I’m only 23, I have time.
Gold ‘posy’ ring
England, 18th century AD
British Museum
‘Many are the stars I see but in my eye no star like thee’
The term ‘posy’, based on the French ‘poésy’, describes the amatory verse or rhyming motto with which the rings are engraved. Here the inscription reads: ‘Many are thee starrs I see yet in my eye no starr like thee’.
The practice of giving gold hoop rings engraved with mottoes at betrothals or weddings was common in England from the sixteenth century onwards, and continued until the late eighteenth century. ‘Posy’ rings could, however, be given on many other occasions as tokens of friendship or loyalty, and ‘posies’ are also found on religious and memorial rings. The inscription is generally found on the interior of the ring, hidden to everyone except the wearer. Most of the sentimental mottoes were taken from popular literature of the time, such as ‘chapbooks’ (pamphlets), or from collections on the language of courtship. A few customers would supply their own composition for the goldsmith to engrave.
The outside of the hoop was often decorated to enhance the message or to form part of the message itself. Coloured enamels could be used, or chased motifs, like the sixteen stars on this example. The inscriptions were usually enamelled in black, which makes them easier to read, although very few survive with all their enamel. The language and the style of the inscription helps us to date them.
S. Bury, An introduction to sentimental (London, Victoria and Albert Museum, 1985)
C. Oman, British rings 800-1914 (London, Batsford, 1974)
O.M. Dalton, Catalogue of the finger rings, (London, British Museum, 1912)
J. Evans, English posies and posy rings (Oxford University Press, 1931)
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I have one surprise post set for tomorrow morning but I’m shutting my laptop down and getting ready to lock up my flat. It’s 36f (2c) in London and supposedly set to snow tomorrow in Paris (knock wood it’s not rain this time around). Bleh.
I’m crashing at a friends house tonight so I can get to St. Pancras by 7:00 tomorrow to go through security. See you all in a bit!
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A modern take on an ancient idea.
But at a price.
“This magnificent poison ring features a large central topaz stone that can be unlocked with a key to reveal a tiny secret compartment. The whole ring is covered in decorative engravings, and on each of the fours claws holding the topaz there are tiny bezel set blue sapphires (we can alternate the sapphires for diamonds if you wish, just let us know in the notes to seller section). It has been entirely hand made (including the locking mechanisms). The dimensions of the locking box are approx 12mm wide x 12mm deep x 18mm from the top of the topaz to the bottom of the box. The key to open it is approx 23mm long, and comes on a 50cm chain to be worn around the neck.”
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Far out in the ocean, where the water is as blue as the prettiest cornflower, and as clear as crystal …
-The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen
(click photo for link and major freak out over the price.)
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londonwonderland answered: i want more hair and moon stone and fans :-D
This is tendrils of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette’s hair entwined together in a ring that the Queen gave to her children’s governess, Madame de Tourzel.
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“A rare early 18th century *Memento Mori band gold known as a skeletal, as the whole length of the skeleton is employed on the outside of the hoop, with other emblems. The earliest known example is dated 1659. This ring is enamelled in black with a full skeleton, twin hearts for love and an hourglass, symbolic of the passage of time and the brevity of life. It is size J [US 4 and 5/8] and the band is 1/8 of an inch wide. A rare ring which has survived in amazingly good condition with enamel intact.”
Balancing our look at the Savage ring above is this equally magnificent memento mori ring with very closely related symbolism. Memento mori symbols are quite highly coveted by collectors as the symbolism of the skeleton still resonates today for mortality, as it always has, hence these pieces are very obvious in their intent.
Let’s look at the differences in the style. What we can gather about each is that there was a clear evolution in the standard of the painting of the symbolism from this particular piece, which is earlier and the Savage ring, which is later. Note the skull first. We have dimension added to the Savage ring, with the head turned to an angle, showing the full perspective of the skull and the jaw. Also, the jaw is stylistically drawn. The elongated rib cage on the Savage ring cascades across the roll of the band, which this particular ring doesn’t have, with the Savage ring adding another three ribs to the anatomy in order to stretch it out. Note also how the average band bows in at the legs and simply works well with its form factor. There’s much to appreciate about the artistry, as well as the basic premise of the stunning symbolism itself. The tempus fugit symbol is generally similar, though just altered around the shading.
*Memento Mori: remember you must die
