The Antique Victorian 1864 In Memory Of Mourning Ring

This mourning ring is a beautifully preserved piece of Victorian craftsmanship. The bold outer band features an inscription in Gothic lettering that reads "IN MEMORY OF", set against a rich black enamel background. The surrounding edges are adorned with delicate, hand-engraved floral carvings with petal shapes and their folds formed into the gold with a high level of expertise and care.

At the front of the ring is a rectangular border with the same exquisite detailing as the ring's edge. Once, this may have held hairwork, preserved under a glass panel, but today it sits empty, allowing the design underneath to shine.

Mourning traditions in the Victorian era were held dear, and a ring like this to commemorate a loved one would have been treasured by the owner, worn to show the world they are in mourning for a close family member or acquaintance. The widespread trend of mourning jewellery and attire, though popular in the Georgian era, was made mainstream by Queen Victoria and her famous elongated period of mourning after the death of her husband, Albert. Often, mourning rings have an engraving with the name and date of death, while this one is blank, leaving us with the mystery of to whom this piece was dedicated.

Inside the band, the ring bears a hallmark for 1864/1865, shown with the letter stamp 'P', hallmarked by the Assay Office of Birmingham, bearing the instantly recognisable golden anchor. The maker's mark is as clear as the hallmark, stamped 'A&S'.