Description:

A RARE RENAISSANCE MEMENTO MORI RING
probably England, ca. 1600
RM 53
18kt yellow gold, tested. Ring head and upper part of the ring decorated with opaque enamel in black and grisaille. Central skull motif on the front, framed by the inscription "MEMENTO MORI" and ornamental decoration. Weight ca. 4,5g Enamel partly with age related scratches, minimal losses and min. replacements.
- South German private collection
- Formerly Salber Collection, Cologne, acquired from S.J. Phillips, London.

Literature:
Shirley Bury: Rings, Victoria & Albert Museum, London n.d. For the type see Fig. 35, E.

A comparable ring with a Memento Mori depiction from the second half of the 16th century is in the collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum. According to oral tradition, this ring was once owned by King Charles I (1600-1649). Tradition further reports that he gave the ring as a gift to Archbishop William Juxon (1582-1663) on the day of his execution in 1649.

The Memento Mori Ring reminds its wearers that they are mortal. Such rings were often used as engagement or wedding rings and refer to the sacred marriage vow "Till death do us part". Earthly transience is contrasted here with eternal life after death.

Seltener Elisabethanischer Memento Mori-Ring
wohl England, um 1600
RM 53
18kt Gelbgold, getestet. Ringkopf und oberer Teil der Schiene verziert mit Opak-Emaille in Schwarz und Grisaille. Schauseitig zentrales Totenkopf-Motiv, umrahmt von Schriftzug "MEMENTO MORI". und Ornamentdekor. Gewicht ca. 4,5g. Emaille teils mit altersbedingen Kratzern, minimalste Fehlstellen und min. ergänzt
- Süddeutsche Privatsammlung
- Vormals Sammlung Salber, Köln, erworben bei S.J. Phillips, London.

Literatur:
Shirley Bury: Rings, Victoria & Albert Museum, London o.J. Zum Typus vergleiche Abb.35, E.

Ein vergleichbarer Ring mit Memento Mori Darstellung aus der zweiten Hälfte des 16.Jahrhunderts befindet sich in der Sammlung des Victoria & Albert Museum. Laut einer mündlichen Überlieferung soll dieser Ring ehemals aus dem Besitz König Karl I.(1600-1649) stammen. Die Überlieferung berichte weiter , dass er den Ring am Tag seiner Hinrichtung 1649 dem Erzbischof William Juxon (1582-1663) als Geschenk überlassen hat.

Der Memento Mori Ring erinnert seine Träger daran, dass sie sterblich sind. Gerne wurden solche Ringe als Verlobungs- oder Eheringe verwendet und nehmen Bezug auf das heilige Ehegelübde "Bis das der Tod uns scheidet". Die irdische Vergänglichkeit steht hier dem Ewigen Leben nach dem Tod gegenüber.

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0 € 19 € 5 €
20 € 179 € 10 €
180 € 299 € 20 €
300 € 359 € 30 €
360 € 399 € 40 €
400 € 899 € 50 €
900 € 999 € 100 €
1.000 € 1.999 € 100 €
2.000 € 2.999 € 200 €
3.000 € 3.599 € 300 €
3.600 € 3.999 € 400 €
4.000 € 9.999 € 500 €
10.000 € 19.999 € 1.000 €
20.000 € 29.999 € 2.000 €
30.000 € 35.999 € 3.000 €
36.000 € 39.999 € 4.000 €
40.000 € 99.999 € 5.000 €
100.000 € 199.999 € 10.000 €
200.000 € + 20.000 €