Mourning ring

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