A D-section hoop with design to the outer face reserved against an enamelled field, the running design comprising a full-length skeleton with down-pointing arrow between the legs, crown above the head and below the feet; a transverse band with 'MEMO-MENRI-TOX' in three lines with pair of crossed fleur-headed sceptres and sword behind; crossed pick-and-spade with star below; another skull set between pair of antlers and an hourglass with scroll below; the details generally enhanced by engraving to the exposed gold areas; inscribed to the inner face in an italic hand 'Penelope Arnold ob.18 May 1728 æt. 42' and maker's mark 'ES' in blackletter script.

PROVENANCE:
Found near Great Warley, Essex, UK, 2013.

FOOTNOTES:
The Arnold family had strong connections to the parish of Great Warley, near Brentwood, Essex. The psalmodist John Warley (1720-1792) lived all his life in the parish, where he was a member of the vestry and a church warden. Arnold is noted for his very successful compilation, The Complete Psalmodist, which included tunes for all 150 psalms, some composed by Arnold himself. The work was published in seven editions between 1740 and 1779. In 1753 he published The Essex Harmony and in 1759 The Leicestershire Harmony. Arnold's death was noted in the Obituaries pages of The Gentleman's Magazine, in March 1792.