Enamelled gold Skeleton mourning ring, Rngland first half of the 18th cent

An enamelled gold Skeleton mourning ring.

English, first half of the 18th century.

Ring size N UK / 6.75 US.

The exterior of the band is decorated with champlevé black enamel depicting memento mori symbolism in the form of a skeleton, a shovel crossed with a pick, bones and an hour glass.

The interior of the band is engraved ‘Capt. Robt. Holmes Ob. 28 Apr 1741 aet 40’ with the maker's mark ‘TT’.

Captain Robert Holmes from the Isle of Wight earned great wealth from his maritime career with the East India Company. In his will he left his wife Elizabeth the vast sum of £25,000.

For a similar example see, the collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum, London. Accession number: M.80-1960.