Skip to main content
Video Loading
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 6

Georgian Carved Posy Ring 'Nosse Te Ipsum', circa 18th Century

About the Item

Georgian carved posy ring 'Nosse Te Ipsum'. A yellow gold D-shape band, ornately carved to the exterior with a repeating pattern of scrolls, inscribed to the interior with the phrase 'NOSSE . TE IPSVM ~ *' in seriffed capitals, translated as 'know thyself', approximately 2.6mm in width. Tested yellow gold, approximately 1.5g in weight, circa 18th century. The phrase 'know yourself' has its origins in Ancient Greece and was one of the 147 Delphic maxims of how to live a worthy life. This, most famous of the maxims, was inscribed on the forecourt of the temple of Apollo at Delphi and has just as much power of sentiment today as it did many thousand years ago- a reminder to be aware of who you are as a person. See Evans, J., 'English Posies and Posy Rings', 1931, p.84 for two variations on this posy- both found on signet rings.
  • Ring Size:
    5.25 US, Resizable
  • Metal:
  • Weight:
    1.5 g
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    18th century
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    London, GB
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 208131stDibs: LU18618413662

More From This Seller

View All
Georgian Gold Posy Ring "True Loue is My Desire" circa 18th Century
Located in London, GB
Georgian gold posy ring 'True loue is my desire'. A yellow gold band with softly scalloped edging, engraved to the interior 'True loue is my desire', approximately 3.7mm in width. Te...
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century Band Rings

Materials

Yellow Gold

Gold posy ring, 'Rather die then faith deny', circa 18th century.
Located in London, GB
Gold posy ring, 'Rather die then faith deny'. A smoothly conforming yellow gold D-shape band engraved to the interior 'Rather die then faith deny' in elegant script, approximately 6....
Category

Antique 18th Century Georgian Wedding Rings

Gold posy ring, 'A true Friends gift', 18th century.
Located in London, GB
Gold posy ring, 'A true friends gift', English. The slim D-shape band engraved to the interior in enamelled italic script 'A true friends gift’, approximately 2.4mm in width. Tested ...
Category

Antique 18th Century Georgian Band Rings

Gold posy ring 'Noe joy in life like a good wife', circa 18th century.
Located in London, GB
Gold posy ring 'Noe joy in life like a good wife'. The smooth plain D-shape band engraved to the interior in italic script 'Noe joy in life like a good wife', approximately 4.2mm in ...
Category

Antique 18th Century Regency Band Rings

Late Medieval Engraved Posy Ring, 'For Good Love', Circa 15th Century.
Located in London, GB
Post Medieval Engraved Posy Ring, 'For Good Love'. A yellow gold flat band, the exterior engraved around the full circumference with a stylised floral and foliate design and italic inscription 'MIEU EN VOU'’ meaning 'best in/on you', the interior engraved with the same stylised floral and foliate design and italic inscription 'A BON AM' meaning 'for good love', with traces of white enamel throughout, approximately 4.1mm wide. Tested yellow gold, approximately 1.84 grams in weight, circa 15th century. The inscriptions seen on this ring are reminiscent of the chivalric values and ideals of courtly love which influenced their design and giving in this era. Accompanied by documentation from the Portable Antiquities Scheme...
Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Band Rings

Materials

Gold

Enamelled posy ring, ‘CONTENEW + CONSTANTE’, 16th century.
Located in London, GB
Enamelled posy ring, 16th century. A yellow gold posy ring, the interior engraved ‘CONTENEW + CONSTANTE’, meaning ‘content and constant’ in old French, the letters in black enamel. T...
Category

Antique 16th Century Band Rings

You May Also Like

20th Century 18 Karat Rose Gold Openwork Ring
Located in Poitiers, FR
Ring in 18 karat rose gold. Antique gold ring, it is decorated with an openwork pattern. Width : 6,8 mm, thickness : 0,8 mm approximately. Total wei...
Category

20th Century French Belle Époque Band Rings

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold

French 20th Century Chiseled 18 Karat Rose Gold Ring
Located in Poitiers, FR
Ring in 18 karat rose gold, horse head hallmark. Antique ring in rose gold, it is finely engraved with floral decorations. Width : 8,8 mm approximately, thickness : 0,6 mm approximat...
Category

20th Century French Belle Époque Band Rings

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold

20th Century Diamonds 18 Karat Yellow Gold Wedding Ring
Located in Poitiers, FR
Ring in 18 karat yellow gold. This elegant antique wedding band features a thick, slightly domed ring set with 8 cushion-cut diamonds. Total diamond weight : 0.50 carat approximately...
Category

20th Century French Belle Époque Wedding Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

20th Century Diamonds 18 Karat Yellow Gold Antique Ring
Located in Poitiers, FR
Ring in 18 karat yellow gold. Wide gold ring, it is drilled of vegetable decorations and decorated on all its turn of small diamonds. Height : 6,8 mm, t...
Category

20th Century French Belle Époque Wedding Rings

Materials

White Diamond, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold

19th Century 18 Karat Yellow Gold Opening Wedding Ring
Located in Poitiers, FR
Ring in 18 karat yellow gold. Rare yellow gold antique ring, it is formed of 2 rings imbricated one in the other and chiselled on all their turn. The alliance splits to let appear on the edge of one of them an inscription: "A. MAIRINE. M.SURON AIID 22 Avril 1872". Size: 7.75 ; not modifiable. Width: 4,3 mm approximately, thickness: 1 mm approximately. Total weight of the jewel : 3,6 g approximately. Authentic antique jewelry - Work of the second half of the XIXth century. Our opinion : many of these antique wedding rings...
Category

Antique 1850s French Napoleon III Band Rings

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Georgian Stuart Crystal Ring, 18th Century
Located in Stamford, CT
A rare, beautiful and magical Stuart Crystal Ring set in 15 Kt gold and backed in sterling silver. Before I say more please understand that none of...
Category

Antique 18th Century English George II Solitaire Rings

Materials

Crystal, 15k Gold

Recently Viewed

View All