At McGowans Jewellers it is often we come across some mysterious pieces of jewellery which are seen as rare and uncommon, especially in the 21st century. It is often the mysterious objects look like they have a rich history with a fantastic story to tell. Recently we have come across two additions to our collection which have a very interesting background.
The first one is a beautiful gold poison/coffin ring set with agate. It is embellished with a gold forget-me-not flower which is set in the centre with a pearl. Inside the casket is decorated with 2 gold hearts.
This ring had a saying which went along with it ‘Memento Mori’ which is Latin for ‘remember you must die’. This saying was used as the centre of the ring under the hinge opening was used to hold poison. Originating in Ancient India and the Far East the poison ring eventually made its way to Europe. Ancient Romans sometimes used poison rings to commit suicide when a painful death was unavoidable. They became popular in Europe in the Sixteenth century where then the poison ring was used to slip poison into an enemy’s food or drink, so it became a weapon for some.
During the Middle Ages these rings evolved into larger casket shapes for holding relics of saints or loved ones who had passed, therefore developing its other title, the coffin ring. They were carried with the hope of protecting the wearer from danger.
During the Renaissance they would be used to store precious gems, fragrance, small portraits, or even locks of hair. They would quite often be worn to express political or religious beliefs. After the execution of Charles I they became fashionable with images of the king, or his initials imbedded on the facet. This led to more widespread use of memento mori or mourning rings- with more personalised aspects. They would be made specially for funerals so people could remember their loved one.
This trend continued to exist right through to the Victorian era. Our mystery object is most likely from this time. It’s in beautiful pristine unworn condition and has a couple of very small marks on the outside of the band which could be French hallmarks, but they are tantalisingly too small to read. If only jewellery could talk, we are sure this ring would have a lot to say!
This ring is now part of our private collection and is not available for sale.
If you are looking for a new piece, then you can shop our collections here or visit us in store at 4 and 41 Argyll Arcade. Our in-store advisors are experienced in helping you find the perfect piece that will suit you and your style. Please note that our online items only represent a small selection of our stock. Any enquiries please call us on 0141 221 0101.
If you want to hear more from McGowans, sign up to our email newsletter here to receive the latest news, updates, offers and competitions.