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Details
AN 18TH CENTURY MOURNING RING
the navette shaped bezel with black and white enamelled skelleton holding an hour-glass and scythe on a plaited hair background with legend DIED 18 MAY 1788 AET 52, and further inscription to the reverse dated 1785, under a crystall cover to an engraved hoop.
the navette shaped bezel with black and white enamelled skelleton holding an hour-glass and scythe on a plaited hair background with legend DIED 18 MAY 1788 AET 52, and further inscription to the reverse dated 1785, under a crystall cover to an engraved hoop.
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium, which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.
Further details
It is rare to encounter skeletons and the attributes of death in a mourning jewel of this period; these symbols are more usually associated with 17th century and earlier memento-mori jewels, reflecting a pre-occupation with mortality and exhorting the owner to prepare for death. By the late 18th century sentimental subjects in a neo-classical style, expressing individual representations of grief were generally prefered.