17th Century Band Rings

A gold ring, with inscription on the inside of the band, in 22 karat yellow gold. This gorgeous ring is a posy (or poesy) ring, deriving its name from the French ‘poésie’, meaning...

Post Medieval posy ring 'Live in love and love in god *'. A smoothly conforming posy ring, engraved to the interior 'Live in love and love in god *' approximately 5.9mm in width. Tes...

Posy Ring “A knote knit in love” England, late 17th century Gold Weight 5 gr; Circumference 57.65 mm; US size 8 1/4; UK size Q 1/2 A wide gold band with D-section and inside the eng...

Post Medieval momento mori ring,'in god alone we too are one'. A rare ring, the exterior of the D-shape band intricately engraved with floral motifs, and a skull with eyes, nose and ...

Post Medieval gold puzzle ring. A gold puzzle ring consisting of three interlinked hooped sections featuring a twist to top, the three sections can be...

Fede Ring with Heart England, 17th century Gold, enamel Weight 1.88 gr.; circumference 44.77mm.; US size 3,1/4; UK size F 3/4 Elaborately decorated posy ring, with messages of love and affection. Gold band, flat on the interior, chased and engraved on the exterior with alternating hearts and rosette motifs. The centerpiece shows two cuffed right hands clasped together holding a heart. Inscribed inside the band in italic script: ‘For love not valer’. Traces of enamel have survived. The ring shows signs of wear through age and is in good wearable condition. The maker’s mark in rectangular punch inside the hoop has the initials ‘SW’, slightly indistinct due to the punch within the curvature of the hoop. Literature: Messages of romantic love on jewelry, and mottoes or inscriptions on plain gold bands go back to the Middle Ages. Beginning in the thirteenth century, ring brooches and rings were given as love tokens and the language of love was expressed in words and amatory motifs. Each element of this ring expresses love and affection, as well as the union of marriage. The clasped hands or ‘mani in fede’ (Italian term for hands in faith), is a motif derived from the Roman ritual of the joining of the right hands during the betrothal ceremony known as dextrarum iunctio. The right hand was considered to be sacred to Fides, the goddess of trust and good faith. The clasped hands as a symbol of love and marriage has continued in both the ceremony and rings through the centuries, even today. The alternating hearts and rosettes underline the love message concealed inside the hoop ‘For love not valer’, only to be known by the giver and recipient. The posy declares that the bond of love is more important than wealth. This fede ring is also a highly elaborate form of posy ring, which are usually simple gold bands with inscription...

POSY RING “BE TRUE TO ME AS I TO THEE” England, 17th century Gold Weight: 1.9 gr.; circumference: 57.6 mm.; size: US 8.25, UK Q Fine D-sectioned hoop. Engr...

The cutest and smallest band of the Noir collection. A simple and narrow work that can accompany any other ring you have. The diamonds all around gives a sparkle and that daily luxur...

Gold Ring, "Franciscus South miles" England, 17th century Gold, traces of enamel Weight 3.3 gr.; circumference 50.58; US size 5.5; UK size L Gold band with D-section on the exterior of the hoop engraved with flowers (forget-me-nots, carnations, and daisies). The ring was originally enameled, and traces of black enamel remain. Inside the hoop engraved in italic script "Franciscus South miles" (Franciscus South, knight). Also inside the hoop is a punch in shield form with a capital letter “S." probably a maker’s mark, which remains unidentified. The ring is in good wearable condition. From the Middle Ages onwards rings bearing a motto or inscription with personal message became ever more popular. Plain gold bands...

POSY RING “I HAVE OBTAINED WHOME GOD ORDAIND” England, 17th century Gold Circumference 58 mm.; weight 7.9 gr.; US size 8/8 ½ ; UK size Q ½ The plain hoop, flat on the interior and r...

POSY RING “PIETY IS THE BEST MONUMENT” England, 17th century Gold Weight: 1.5 g.; circumference: 60.1 mm.; size: US 9.25, UK S Fine, irregular, D-section ho...

POSY RING “GOD ABOVE INCREASE OUR LOVE” England, 17th century Gold Circumference 57.8 mm.; weight 4.3 gr.; US size 8 ½; UK size Q 1/2 The rounded hoop, flat on its perimeters, is en...

POSY RING “LET UARTU BE GIDE TO THE” England, 17th Century Gold Weight 3.1g; circumference: 60.1mm ; size: US 9.25, UK S Medium hoop, with rounded exterior and flat interior. Italic inscription reads: “Let uartu be gide to the.” A maker’s mark, CB (or LB?) app...

Post Medieval engraved posy ring 'Let this present my good intent'. A rare ring, the exterior of the D-shape band intricately engraved with hearts pierced with arrows and flower moti...

Stuart gold posy ring 'Vertue passeth riches'. A smoothly conforming shallow D-shape band, engraved to the interior in florid italic script '* Vertue passeth riches x', approximately...

Post Medieval gold skull ring. A smoothly conforming D-shape band engraved to the exterior with a stylised skull, the interior engraved in italic script ...

Post Medieval Sergeant-at-Law ring 'Long Live the King and the Law'. A wide yellow gold ring, engraved to the exterior '+VIVAT*REX*ET*LEX' trans...

An English posy ring, hailing from a bygone era, carries with it echos of romance and time-honored traditions. These rings, historically gifted betwe...

Poesy rings were popular in England and France during the 16th through the 17th centuries as lover's gifts. The quotations were often from courtship stories...