Rare Georgian White Enamel Memento Mori Mourning Ring, 18k Gold, Dated 1809

An oval memorial ring in 18k yellow gold, its face holding a funerary urn and its band lettered in gold against white enamel. The band reads JOHN JERE SMITH OB 1 SEP 1809 AET 4YRS. The urn carries the line NOT LOST BUT GONE BEFORE.

White enamel is what sets this ring apart. Georgian mourning jewelry was almost always enameled in black. White was reserved for children and the unmarried, a mark of innocence, and far fewer of these rings were made or have survived. This one was commissioned for a boy who died on the first of September, 1809, at four years old.

Condition is honest for a ring more than two centuries old. The white enamel is heavily worn, and the urn shows wear consistent with moisture having reached it at some point in its life. Both are visible in the photographs. It should be removed before washing hands or showering and kept dry.

Materials: 18k yellow gold with white enamel
Inscription: “ JOHN JERE SMITH OB 1 SEP 1809 AET 4YRS” "NOT LOST BUT GONE BEFORE"
Dimensions: 12.5 × 10 mm and sits 2.4 mm off the finger on a 2.4 mm band
Weight: 2.3 grams
Ring Size: US 8 (because the enamel and inscription run the full circumference, it cannot be sized)
Period: 1809
Condition: Appears original

This is an unaltered period piece from The Vintage Vault at Petra Star, in historic downtown Mystic, Connecticut.A poignant survivor of Georgian mourning traditions, this rare white enamel ring is a highly collectible piece of history, cherished for its symbolism, craftsmanship, and emotional significance.