Posie ring
Posie rings (sometimes spelled "posy ", "posey" or "poesy rings") are finger rings with short inscriptions on their outer surfaces. More rarely the inscription is on the inner surface.
A posey ring or love ring, is a simple gold band engraved with a brief sentiment or poem on the outside. They were used as a lover's token, a wedding ring, or simply as a means of showing regard or giving a gift.
Popular during the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries in England and France as lovers' gifts, the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England has an outstanding collection. The Victoria and Albert museum in London also has a good collection bequeathed by Joan Evans, daughter of a famous 19th century collector. She compiled a list of more than 3000 posies for her book 'English Posies and Posy Rings' (oxford Press 1931, out of print)
The language used in many early posy rings was Norman French, with French, Latin and English used in later times. The posies were originally written on the outside, moving to the hidden inside of the ring in later (mid 16th Century onwards) times.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Posey rings in the Ashmolean: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuartyeates/54893120/
- Posy ring messages Wartski, London: http://www.wartski.com/Posy%20ring%20messages.htm[unreliable source?]
