POST MEDIEVAL FINGER RING

1662

Description: Post-medieval gold mourning ring. D-sectioned band inscribed internally H. Awdeley. ob. 15. nou. 1662 followed by a stamped maker's mark in the form of a low relief W with another smaller letter, possibly an R, above it within a shield. Two shallow parallel lines behind the text may be guidelines for the engraving.Externally the band is engraved with a stylised skull, either side of which is a single line border at either edge between which is crosshatching with a short dash in one corner of each resulting lozengiform field. Black enamel survives in almost all of the external engraving, although there is no trace of enamel within the internal inscription.Discussion: This ring almost certainly commemorates Hugh Audley (baptised 13th January 1577) who owned land at Buckenham, Norfolk, died on the 15th of November 1662 and was buried at the Temple Church, London (Considine, 2004). Audley was a rich and prominent money lender and his death was mentioned in Pepys diary (Gyford, 2014).The maker's mark is very similar to one on a mourning ring in the collections of the British Museum (museum number 1961,1202.56) identified by Tony Dove as possibly being the mark of Richard Willcockes I of Plymouth (active 1649-82) or Richard Willcockes II (active 1704-48) (Judy Rudoe, pers. comm.).Date: 1662Dimensions: Width of band 5mm. External diameter 23mm. Internal diameter 18mm. Weight 7.0g.The age and precious metal content of this item therefore qualify it as treasure under the stipulations of the Treasure Act 1996.BibliographyJohn Considine, 'Audley, Hugh (bap. 1577, d. 1662)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, May 2006 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/893, accessed 6 Jan 2014]Gyford, Phil [ed], (6 January 2014 - last updated) "Sunday 23 November 1662", (The Diary of Samuel Pepys) Available: http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1662/11/23/ (Accessed: 2014, 6 January).