The willow and the widow

Georgian mourningring
Georgian mourningring weeping willow
147

SALIX

Willow

Mourning ring

Unknown, European

Georgian. Ca. 1810

Unmarked

750/1000 gold 18 k, sepia miniature

24,7 x 13,4 mm

5,8 grams

Good.

Sold

 

 

A collectable and wearable Georgian mourning ring, filled with neo-classical symbolism. The pearly beaded rim is such a typical decoration technique, more often seen on silver objects from the period 1780-1820. The navette shape of this ring resembles the shape of a tear.
The willow tree is a traditional symbol of mourning. The image further depicts an urn on a plinth, a women in white, bringing red roses and forget me not flowers; which makes clear that this pretty ring is an example of early mourning jewellery. In the later Victorian pieces, the symbolism changes and instead of white, black will be the new black. The texture in the sepia pigment is actually hair mixed in with the paint.

 

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