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Mourning? ring

England

c. 1770

Gold ring, the marquise bezel containing a lock of white hair tied with a gold ribbon on a blue ground within a seed pearl frame

18.34 mm internal ring diameter; 6.87 g weight

Bought in London

Presented by Dr C.D.E. Fortnum in honour of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, 1897; WA1899.CDEF.F658

This neoclassical style of bezel enclosing the hair of a loved one was worn by those who preferred to demonstrate sentiment over wealth

Scarisbrick and Henig, Finger Rings, 2003, pl. 28.1