Post Medieval Gold 'Death calls man falls, prepare' Decorated Memento Mori Ring

LATE 17TH-EARLY 18TH CENTURY A.D.

7/8 in. (1.95 grams, 18.94 mm overall, 16.39 mm internal diameter (approximate size British K 1/2, USA 5 1/2, Europe 10.58, Japan 10)).

D-section hoop with oval cartouche flanked by elongated mouldings with pointed ends; cartouche with a skull, the mouldings on each side decorated with double rows of incised cross hatching; inscription on the internal surface with a maker's mark reading: 'Death calls man falls, prepare L..D.' followed by the maker's mark, a heater shield with indistinct liner design.

Provenance

Found whilst searching with a metal detector in Lewes, West Sussex, UK, on Wednesday, 9th October 2024.

Declared as treasure under the Treasure Act with reference no.2024T1242, subsequently disclaimed and returned to the finder.
Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.SUSS-1D0CDB.

Footnotes

See examples with similar style script and moulded skulls flanked with cross-hatched mouldings on the PAS website :SF-223B48 (2021T585) dated to 1697; DEV-200F91 (2019T823) with black niello inlay surviving dating 1676; LON-A96750 (2010T192) also with niello inlay dating 1703/4 and DUR-4FC118 (2015T249) dating 1673.

CONDITION

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LOT 0367