Mourning ring

Memorial rings have been made to commemorate people since the sixteenth century. Money was often left in wills in order for rings to be made for named individuals or to be distributed at the funeral.

This ring was made to commemorate Hannah Darby who died in 1860. The jewelled letters AEI are from the Greek word for 'Always'. This was a popular addition to love and mourning jewellery. The poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning owned a ring with the same motto, which her husband Robert Browning wore on his watch chain after her untimely death. Rings such as this could be bought from jewellery retailers and the inscription added to personalise them. The London jewellery firm of John Brogden have designs for rings like this, dating from 1860.