A Rare Token Of Affection
In both England and France, posy rings - a ring with a short inscription expressing regard, friendship and most frequently love - were the most popular form of ring from the late medieval period to the 18th century.
Samuel Pepys mentions them in his diary and Shakespeare refers to them in Hamlet and The Merchant of Venice. In both England and France, posy rings - a ring with a short inscription expressing regard, friendship and most frequently love - were the most popular form of ring from the late medieval period to the 18th century.
Taking their name from the old French word ‘poesy’ or 'posie' meaning short rhyme or poem, they reached their peak of popularity in the 16th and 17th centuries when they were typically inscribed inside the band. The wearing of words against the skin was believed to increase their poignancy.
Countless inscriptions have been recorded conveying messages such as ‘True love will not remove, When this you se remember me or You and I will Lovers dye'. The ‘posy’ to the ring that is to be auctioned at our November 21 Jewellery, Watches and Silver sale is unusual - possibly unrecorded. Further details will be released in our auction catalogue. The ring was dug up by the vendor in the garden of their local property. It is believed the land was formerly an orchard once owned by the Countess of Warwick. The estimate for this souvenir of a now forgotten romance is £300-500.
Jewellery, Watches and Silver - Tuesday 21 November, 10am
For more information, please contact:
Catriona Smith | catrionasmith@sworder.co.uk
Recent News
The HALO Trust: Clearing the Path to Peace
Through a compelling series of photographs, this exhibition shines a light on The HALO Trust’s work in communities affected by conflict, capturing both the danger of landmine clearance and the hope that follows when land can be safely used again.
3 September 2026
Scenes of a Changing India
The term ‘Company School’ refers to a genre of painting that emerged in India in the late 18th and 19th centuries, flourishing under the patronage of British East India Company officials, their families, and other European residents in India.
28 August 2026
The James Birch Collection
Art dealer, curator, gallerist and author James Birch has spent more than four decades championing artists and staging groundbreaking exhibitions. This October, approximately 300 works from his private collection come to auction at Sworders, tracing a remarkable career from the King’s Road to Moscow and beyond.