1756 White Enamel Mourning Ring for Ann Wood (1750-56)

A c. 1756 English Rococo mourning ring for a child, the 18k gold white-enameled shank inscription inlaid, “Ann Wood ob: 28 Feb: 1756 Æ: 6”. According to parish records, Ann was christened Jan 1750 at Thornton by Bradford, York, the daughter of John Wood of Bradford. Barely a month after her sixth birthday, Ann passed away on 28 Feb 1756, and was buried two days later on 2 March at the Bradford cathedral. The Wood family of Bradford were manufacturers of wool combs and leading spinners of worsted. The present ring bears design traits typical of English mourning rings made during the rococo era: the back is rayed, and the shank—which during the early 18th c tended to be straight or shaped like bones—resembles a series of interconnected ribbon-like cartouches with scrollwork curls. Mourning inscriptions were most commonly inlaid in black enamel; those inlaid in white were typically reserved for children or the unmarried. A very similar mourning ring, for a child of three and dating to 1742, is in the British Museum collection (see AF.1684). A trait of further note is the Stuart-type design of the present ring’s head, which features a faceted crystal with a gold wirework monogram against a bed of hair or fabric. This design emerged during the late 17th century and remained popular throughout the early 18th century, but would largely disappear by 1760; its appearance on the present ring is therefore a late coda to an eight-decade design feature. For a 1752 mourning ring with a Stuart-type wirework crystal, see British Museum AF.1674.
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