Posy rings take their name from the French poésie, or poetry. They became especially popular in Britain from the 16th through 18th centuries as tokens of love, fidelity, and friendship. Often given at a betrothal or wedding, they were a predecessor to the gold wedding rings we know today, but a lot more intimate, IMO. Inside this simple 18th-century gold band is engraved “Let vertue be a guide to the.” The spelling “vertue” and "the" for "thee" is a cute reminder that English spelling was still becoming standardized in this period; variant and old-fashioned spellings lingered into the 18th century, particularly in short inscriptions like these.
MATERIALS: 22k gold (tests)
AGE: c. 1700
CONDITION: Good - surface wear commensurate with age and use; mark on the band from a previous resizing or repair which has partially obscured the maker's mark
SIZE: 7.25, resizing not recommended; 2.6mm shank