Georgian Urn White Enamel Mourning Ring Dated 1781

He was fifteen. On the 4th of February 1781, John Bower died, and his family had his name set into gold so it would be carried on someone's hand. It has been, for 245 years.

A navette face holds a finely worked urn, the Georgian emblem of remembrance, under crystal. Around it runs a border of white enamel lettered in gold: JOHN BOWER OB 4 FEB 1781 AE 15, "died 4 February 1781, aged 15." A scalloped rose gold frame finishes the face, set on a slender band.

Why white enamel matters. In Georgian mourning jewelry, the color of the enamel told you who was lost. Black marked a married adult. White was reserved for a child or someone who died unmarried, a symbol of innocence. At fifteen, John was both, and the white border says so before you read a single word.

What the ring says about his family. Mourning rings were commissioned by the family and given to those closest to the deceased. The more elaborate the ring, the higher the karat, the finer the painting, the more stones and detail, the more affluent the family. John's ring is made in low-karat rose gold, with no stones, and his inscription sits beneath the crystal on the face rather than engraved inside the band. It points to a family of real but modest means who chose to put their son's name front and center, where everyone would see it.

Era: Georgian, dated 1781
Materials: Low-karat (9k) rose gold, white enamel, crystal
Markings: JOHN.BOWER.OB.4.FEB.1781.AE.15, in the enamel under the crystal; no inscription inside the band
Special Feature: White enamel, signifying a child or an unmarried person
Dimensions: 22.5 x 15.5 mm at the face; band is 1.5 mm
Weight: 3.8 grams
Ring Size: US 8 (inquire about sizing)
Condition: Original, with noticeable wear on the crystal

See it in person at 3 Water Street in Historic Downtown Mystic, or write to hello@petrastar.com for more photos or a video.