{"product_id":"17th-century-posy-ring-love-live-happy-1","title":"17th Century Posy Ring \"Love \u0026 Live Happy\"","description":"\u003cp\u003eA\u003cem\u003ebout a hoop of gold, a paltry ring\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThat she did give me whose posy was\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eFor all the world like cutler's poetry\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eUpon a knife: 'Love me an leave me not'\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Shakespeare, \u003cem\u003eThe Merchant of Venice \u003c\/em\u003e(V, I)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA divine 17th century posy ring inscribed inside with the motto: \"Love \u0026amp; live happy\". The italicised script helps date it from around 1650 to 1700: \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"[Charles] \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOman (1974: 40-1) states that Roman capitals were used for inscriptions from the mid-16th century, and were replaced by Italics by the second quarter of the 17th century.\"*\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e A ring with the same inscription dated to 1689 is mentioned in Joan Evans's \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eEnglish Posies and Posy Rings \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e(1931), and there are two others in the British Museum collections (Af. 1331 \u0026amp; 1330). \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003ePosy rings, or \"love rings\", are perhaps the most personal rings of all, being often associated with love and marriage. They contain a secret message from giver to receiver, hidden within, designed to be worn against the skin making the message even more poignant. Most popular throughout the 16th to late 18th centuries, they were exchanged as love tokens, betrothal or wedding rings, and are the inspiration for modern wedding bands. The term posy is late Middle English, with roots in old French and ultimately ancient Greek. It means, simply, poem or poetic verse. As noted above, with Nerissa's angry lament in \u003cem\u003eThe Merchant of Venice \u003c\/em\u003e(Gratiano had, after all, parted with the ring she gave him after swearing he would keep it until his death), Shakespeare was familiar with the use of posy rings. He also mentions them in Hamlet when the king, addressed by the Prologue before a play enacted at court, asks: \"Is this the prologue or the posy of a ring?\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhilst most posy rings promise constancy or invoke God, this one is more of a wish - a blessing - for the couple's happiness so long as they stay true to love. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecorded under the \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePortable Antiquities Scheme, report available on request. Found by a UK metal detectorist in 2021.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e*Source: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.britishmuseum.org\/collection\/object\/H_1961-1202-148\"\u003eBritish Museum\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEra: Stuart, circa 1650-1700\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRing size: O or 7.25 US. Not resizable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWidth of band: 3mm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWeight: 2.4 grams\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMarks: Slightly rubbed maker's mark, appears to be GP in a shield. Tests as 21\/22ct gold. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCondition: Great antique condition; light wear\/patina consistent with age. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lost Heirloom","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53747714490680,"sku":"LO3271","price":3400.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0555\/7387\/2952\/files\/Website-9513.jpg?v=1793977852","url":"https:\/\/lostowl.com\/products\/17th-century-posy-ring-love-live-happy-1","provider":"Lost Owl Jewelry","version":"1.0","type":"link"}