Catalog (382)

Late renaissance memento mori skull ring. "Memento mori" jewelry translates to "remember thou must die", a reminder to all to live life fully, as death awaits. Memento mori rings were meant to encourage the practice of reflection on one's mortality. This is a very early ring with black enamel etching along the sides and back and a perfectly shaped skull in intaglio on the front. The ring is silver gilt with black enamel carving. Circa 1620. US size 8 1/2.

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 and are usually inscribed on the inner surface of the ring as is the case in this one. This ring amusingly reads "A virtuous Wife Preferreth Life". We imagine that in the 17th century, a woman was indeed better off being virtuous! We think this could make a more unusual and unique wedding band than a gold band. As all gold jewelry in England...

A late Medieval signet ring of silver engraved with strong cross cultural references of the pelican in her piety and navigation symbols of the moon and stars. During the medieval period many were illiterate and pictorial signet rings served the practical purpose of bearing a mark that when impressed upon clay would authenticate documents. The Pelican in her piety refers to the medieval fable of the pelican drawing blood from her breast to feed her chicks. The Pelican thus is a strong symbol ...

Our poesy ring (spelled posy, posie, or posey) has the deep color of a 22carat ring along with a textured pattern and an interesting inscription "Seale up Secrets" that is both biblical and romantic in substance. The term "seale up secrets" with its Gothic spelling of seale, refers to the biblical phrase "seal up". In the Bible, the phrase "seal up" is often used to refer to something being kept secure until a specific time. The phrase in essence means secrets (between the wearer and the giv...