Stuart engraved gold posy ring 'From my affection springeth my affliction'. The D-shape band finely engraved to the exterior with a repeating pattern of grazing birds and foliage, the interior engraved in italic script 'From my affection springeth my affliction', approximately 3.3mm in width. Tested yellow gold, circa 17th century.
Posy rings with engraving to their outer surface are the rarest of posy rings. For a further posy ring with engraved bird motifs, see British Museum acquisition number 1961,1202.229. This exact posy motto nor any similar have been catalogued in Joan Evans' extensive inventory of posy rings, see Evans, J., 'English Posies and Posy Rings', 1931.
By repute, this posy ring was found at the Eaton ironstone quarries in Leicestershire in the 1950/60s. These quarries have been intermittently worked for production of iron ore since Ancient Roman times.
