Posie rings (sometimes spelled posy, posey or poesy rings) are finger rings with short inscriptions on their outer surfaces. More rarely, the inscription is on the inner surface.
A posie ring is a simple gold band engraved with a brief sentiment or poem on the outside, used as a lover's token, a wedding ring, or simply as a means of showing regard or giving a gift.
Popular during the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries in England and France as lovers' gifts, the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England, has an outstanding collection. The Victoria and Albert Museum in London also has a good collection bequeathed by Joan Evans, daughter of a famous 19th-century collector. She compiled a list of more than 3000 posies for her book English Posies and Posy Rings (Oxford Press, 1931, out of print).
The language used in many early posy rings was Norman French, with French, Latin and English used in later times. The posies were originally written on the outside, moving to the hidden inside of the ring in later (mid-16th century onwards) times.
Famous quotes containing the word ring:
“The world,—this shadow of the soul, or other me, lies wide around. Its attractions are the keys which unlock my thoughts and make me acquainted with myself. I run eagerly into this resounding tumult. I grasp the hands of those next to me, and take my place in the ring to suffer and to work, taught by an instinct, that so shall the dumb abyss be vocal with speech.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)