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Memento Mori ring

Late 17th century

Gold ring, the bezel in the shape of a young woman's face on one side and a skull on the other, enamelled white with touches of red, and set with a diamond, the shoulders of the hoop lobed and richly chased and enamelled, set with small harlequin stones

15.49 mm internal ring diameter; 7.06 g weight

Bought in Paris

Presented by Dr C.D.E. Fortnum in honour of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, 1897; WA1899.CDEF.F520

Mortality rates were high in the sixteenth and seventeenth century due to war, plague and famine and Memento Mori rings such as this example were intended to remind the wearer of their mortal state.

Scarisbrick and Henig, Finger Rings, 2003, pl. 20.3

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