Victorian 18ct Gold & Hair Mourning Ring with Buckle Design

An unusual 18ct gold ring that was made circa 1840-1870. It is a buckle design over finely woven plaited hair. The buckle means that “You are bound to me forever” Hair jewellery was the height of the romanticism and sentiment that characterised the Victorian era. Some pieces were done as mourning pieces or “momento mori” “remember you must die”. While some may find this morbid, for the Victorians death was a common and accepted part of everyday life especially due to the higher infant mortality rate of the time. Hair jewellery was not only for mourning jewellery, it was also created as love tokens from sweethearts, family members and cherished friends. Rings might be engraved with loving messages and memorials either on the face or inside the band, and might also have hidden compartments for the hair. This ring is in wonderful condition and is a good example of the craftsmanship that was put into this art form. This ring is a size R and cannot be resized.