Object Number 1966.0005

Object Name

Ring (finger) (Mourning ring)

Category

Jewelry

Credit Line/Donor

Gift of Mr. Leroy Strasburger

Place of Origin

England, United Kingdom, Europe

Origin Notes

Origin possibly America.

Mark or Signature or Inscription or Label

1. Inscription; Setting, underside; "Frances Brown/ Ob\t24 Feb. 1808/ Aet 72" engraved in script

Materials

Gold; Rock crystal; Jet

Dimensions (inches)

2.06 (Diam) , 0.112 (Weight)

Dimensions (centimeters)

5.24 (Diam) , 3.17 (Weight)

Measurement Notes

Winterthur's SRAL used XRF to measure the gold alloy on September 19, 1988 according to request 2298-B: Copper 46.9% Silver 19.0% Gold 34.1% The black enamel contained manganese as the predominant element as well as trace amounts of iron. See: Report #2298-B.

Object Description

Web - 12/18/2024

In the nineteenth century, jet became popular for use in mourning jewelry. An ring dated 1808 is an early example of the use of jet to commemorate or signify that one was in mourning. This ring presents a small rectangle crystal bordered by twenty faceted jet stones and has an open, split gold shank fashionable in the early part of the nineteenth century. Mounted under the crystal is dark brown plaited hair. This hair, likely belonging to the person the ring memorializes, adds a personal touch to the piece. “Frances Brown/ Ob/t24 Feb. 1808/Aet 72” is engraved on the underside of the bezel.