17th-19th century AD. A gold posy seal ring with D-section hoop engraved with a medial band of geometric motifs, expanding at the shoulders, rounded rectangular bezel, slightly concave on the underside, set with a red and green jasper stone inscribed in French: 'Le don n'est rien l'amitié enfait le prix' (reversed) in three lines, literally: 'The gift is nothing friend is the price'; apanied by a meum-quality impression. See Rey, M., Friend in the Renaissance, Italy, France, England, 1450-1650, European University Institute, Florence, for discsion; cf. The Portable Antiquities Scheme Database, id. DENO-B87439, for a ring withparable hoop and shoulder decoration, dated 1600-1650. 3.22 grams, 21.11mm overall, 17.95mm internal diameter (approximate size British N 1/2, A 6 3/4, Europe 14.35, Japan 13) (1"). UK antiques market between 1974-1985. From the Albert Ward collection (part 2), Essex, UK. ‘Posy’ is derived from ‘poesy’ or ‘poetry’, with posy rings being named th in the mid 19th century. Prior to this date, there was no specific term for these rings, although there is reference to posies as jewellery in Shakespeare. In the medieval period many rings bore posy inscriptions in Latin or French, the languages frequently spoken by the affluent elites. Later, inscriptions in English became more ual, although the lack of standardisation in spelling might surprise the modern reader. The inscription is generally found on the interior of the ring, hidden to everyone except the wearer and most of the sentimental mottoes were taken from the popular literature of the time. In fact, love inscriptions often repeat each other, which suggests that goldsmiths ed stock phrases. In the later 16th century, ‘posy’ specifically meant a short inscription. A posy is described in contemporary literature as a short ‘epigram’ of less than one verse. George Puttenham (1589) explained that these phrases were not only inscribed on finger rings, but also applied to arms and trenchers. The practice of giving rings engraved with mottoes at betrothals or weddings wasmon in England from the 16th century onwards, and continued until the late 18th century. Sources suggest that rings could be acquired ready- engraved, or alternatively engraved sometime after their initial production, by a hand other than the goldsmith’s. Joan Evans assumed that posy rings were principally ed by/between lovers and distinguished four contexts for the giving of posy rings by one lover to another: betrothals, weddings, St Valentine’s Day and occasions of mourning. Samuel Pepys’ diary makes clear that posy rings might also mark the marriage of a family member, when bearers could evenmission their own rings and chose their own mottoes from books. The rings could also function as tokens of friend or loyalty. [No Reserve]