Definition and Purpose of Mourning Rings
- Finger ring worn in memory of someone who has died
- Bears name, date of death, and possibly an image or motto
- Usually paid for by the person commemorated or their heirs
- Specified in wills, along with intended recipients
- Stones mounted on the rings are usually black, with jet as the preferred option
Materials Used in Mourning Rings
- Jet was the preferred option, if affordable
- Otherwise, black materials like black enamel or vulcanite were used
- White enamel used on occasion, especially for deceased children
- Hair of the deceased sometimes incorporated into the ring
- Concerns about substitution of hair limited the widespread use of hair in mourning rings
Historical Development of Mourning Rings
- Mourning rings date back to at least the 14th century
- In the 17th century, mourning rings clearly separated from memento mori rings
- By the mid-18th century, jewelers advertised the speed of making such rings
- The style settled upon was a single small stone with details of the decedent recorded in enamel on the hoop
- In the latter half of the 19th century, mass-produced rings with a mounted photograph became popular, leading to a decline in mourning ring usage
Resurgence of Mourning Rings
- Mourning ring usage resurfaced in the 1930s and 1940s in the United States
- Rings were made of bakelite and mounted a small picture of the person being mourned
- Mourning rings have been made to mark occasions other than a person's death
- William Skirving received a mourning ring in 1793 after being sentenced to penal transportation
- Princess Amelia of the United Kingdom is mentioned as having a mourning ring
References and Further Reading
- Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mourning rings
- '7000 Years of Jewellery' edited by Hugh Tait provides information on mourning rings
- Caroline Barton's article 'Mourning rings: portable and poignant souvenirs' on britishmuseum.org discusses the significance of mourning rings
- Collectors Weekly features information on antique mourning jewelry
- 'Rings' by Rachel Church explores the history and symbolism of various types of rings, including mourning rings
Mourning ring Data Sources
| Reference | URL |
|---|---|
| Glossary | https://harryandcojewellery.com.au/blogs/glossary/mourning-ring |
| Wikipedia | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mourning_ring |
| Wikidata | https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12004873 |
| Knowledge Graph | https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/02wwhyq |