{"product_id":"17th-century-posy-ring-your-sight-is-my-delight","title":"17th Century Posy Ring \"Your Sight is my delight\"","description":"\u003cp\u003eA rare 17th century posy ring with beautifully engraved motifs to the outer band, as well as the message inside. And what a message... with traces of the original black enamelling, it reads, in an italicised script: \u003cem\u003eYour sight is my delight\u003c\/em\u003e (!!). It's crafted in high carat gold (testing around 21\/22ct) and the engraving to the outside depicts scrolls and flowers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA ring with a similar inscription mentioned in Jane Evans's \u003cem\u003eEnglish Posies and Posy Rings\u003c\/em\u003e (1931) - \"Your sight, my delight\" - and there's a similar example in the British Museum: \"In they sight is my delight.\" Although engraved motifs to the outer band are rare, the V\u0026amp;A has \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/collections.vam.ac.uk\/item\/O118506\/ring-unknown\/\"\u003ea similar example here\u003c\/a\u003e. And of it they say:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"Gold hoops engraved inside or outside the hoop with a romantic motto were known as posy rings, from the French word 'poesie', or poem. Some posies were quite standardised and could be suggested by the jeweller or found in a book of mottoes or posies. Others must have been chosen by the loving donor. The outer hoop of this ring is engraved with animals and plants.\"\u003c\/em\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. 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\u003eEra: Stuart, circa 1650-1700\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRing size: I or 4.25 US. Not resizable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWidth of band: 3.0mm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWeight: 1.4 grams\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMarks: None, tested as 21\/22ct gold\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCondition: Good antique condition; light wear consistent with age. Traces of the original black enamel are present in the script.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lost Heirloom","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53066731585848,"sku":"LO3201","price":2600.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0555\/7387\/2952\/files\/Website-7185.jpg?v=1790951524","url":"https:\/\/lostowl.com\/products\/17th-century-posy-ring-your-sight-is-my-delight","provider":"Lost Owl Jewelry","version":"1.0","type":"link"}