The finger ring has a circular shaped hoop, the ‘D’ shaped band in cross section with a flat inner surface and a convex outer surface.  The exterior band is plain, unadorned.  The inner surface is inscribed with lower case italic script “love envieth no[t]” with a small kite shape after the words

“love” and “envieth” and a Saltire cross between the words “no[t]” and “love” indicating the end/ beginning of the phrase. The ring shows signs of wear through age and is in good wearable condition.

Provenance:

Found near Blithfield, Staffordshire, disclaimed as Treasure (WMID-A80491).

Literature:

“Posy rings,” their name deriving from the term poésie or poetry, are rings inscribed with mottos either in prose or verse. They often concealed love messages inside their hoop, like here, which were only known to the giver and recipient. They find mention in the plays of William Shakespeare, such as Hamlet and the Merchant of Venice. Posy rings enjoyed great popularity in Britain throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. They were traditionally exchanged between relatives, friends, lovers, and were often given as betrothal or wedding rings.

The posy here, “Love envieth no[t]” is relatively rare.  Joan Evans (1931, p. 72) records this posy in a manuscript, a commonplace book dated 1596, but not on an actual ring (London, British Library, Harley MS 6910, f. 160v and following).  The phrase is biblical and occurs in 1 Corinthians 13:4.

For a history of posy rings with extensive examples ranging from the medieval period to eighteenth century, see: Scarisbrick 2021 and further information on posies: Evans, 1931; Anon., A Garland of Love: A Collection of Posy-Ring Mottoes, London 1907; Dalton 1912, pp. 174 ff.; Scarisbrick 2007, pp. 74 ff., Taylor and Scarisbrick 1978; Oman 1974, pp. 39 ff.

R-1055