18th Century Posy Ring "Let Virtue be your Guide"

A rare antique posy ring in 22 carat gold dating from the first decades of the 18th century. The inscription inside the band reads, "Let Virtue be your Guide," and the maker's mark, ES in Roman script, is likely that of Edward Sweet II. Sweet was an English goldsmith and spoonmaker who worked in Dunster, Somerset, during the first half of the 18th century from circa 1700 to 1737. A number of his items are held in the collections of the British Museum. Posy rings, or "love rings", are perhaps the most personal rings of all, being often associated with love and marriage. They contain a secret message from giver to receiver, hidden within, designed to be worn against the skin making the message even more poignant. Most popular throughout the 16th to late 18th centuries, they were exchanged as love tokens, betrothal or wedding rings, and are the inspiration for modern wedding bands. The term posy is late Middle English, with roots in old French and ultimately ancient Greek. It means, simply, poem or poetic verse. As noted above, with Nerissa's angry lament in The Merchant of Venice (Gratiano had, after all, parted with the ring she gave him after swearing he would keep it until his death), Shakespeare was familiar with the use of posy rings. He also mentions them in Hamlet when the king, addressed by the Prologue before a play enacted at court, asks: "Is this the prologue or the posy of a ring?" Era: Early Georgian, 1700-1737 Ring size: M 1/2 or 6.5 US. Resizing not recommended. Width of band: 2.8mm Marks: ES maker's mark, possibly for Edward Sweet II. Tested as 22ct gold. Condition: Great antique condition; light wear consistent with age.