![]() The circular band has a bezel formed in the shape of two clasped hands with a projecting heart between them. Mudlark Mark Beverlo found an incredible gold fede ring (third image left). A posy ring was engraved with a short, personalized poem around the inside of the band. Posy and fede rings were given as gifts and worn as a symbol of love for another person. It is decorated with a full skeleton around the circumference of the ring.Īlthough Londoners endured war, death, and destruction in the 17th century, there are stories of love which mudlarks have uncovered that still resonate today. A highly detailed memento mori ring was also found by mudlark Malcolm Duff. That is a ripe old age for this time period. Inside the band of the gold ring, the words “TW obt (died) 31 O’cto’ 1701 aeta (aged) 80.” Although we don’t know what name “TW” stands for, we do know that the person died on October 31, 1701, and was 80 years old. Engraved with a skull, this gold mourning ring is inscribed with the name of the deceased, Alex Cheeke, and the date of his death on February 15, 1668.Īnother exquisite mourning ring was found by Nick Stevens. Mudlark Rae Love found one of these 17th-century rings while mudlarking along the River Thames. Sometimes “memento mori” rings were produced and worn in memory of their loved ones. Relatives of the deceased grieved in different ways. During these horrific events, many people lost their lives. The city endured the English Civil War, overthrow of the British monarchy, the Great Plague of 1665, and the Great Fire of London in 1666. The 17th century was a tumultuous time in London. ![]() This article features some of the exquisite brooches and finger rings from the 17th through 20th centuries which have been found in the River Thames by mudlarks. In the May/June 2020 issue of Beachcombing Magazine, I wrote about extraordinary jewelry from the Iron Age to Tudor times. Rescued from the depths of the river, the gemstone has been given new life and will be cherished as a family heirloom by generations to come. Professional jewelry designer, Ruth Patterson created a beautiful gold necklace with several uncut Thames garnets fixed to the chain and the Sri Lankan garnet suspended as a stunning pendant. One of my Instagram followers in Scotland saw my post and offered to set it for me as a present for my wife to celebrate our 13th wedding anniversary. ![]() It didn’t feel like plastic or glass, so I hoped it could possibly be a cut garnet or even a ruby! Days later, a gemologist at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London confirmed that it is a whopping 8.2 carat Hessonite garnet from Sri Lanka. ![]() My heart was beating out of my chest as I carefully picked it up. Suddenly, a large red gemstone appeared amongst the gravel, illuminated in the darkness by my head torch (flashlight)! Wearing knee pads and rubber gloves, I crawled along the foreshore, carefully examining the surface, searching for historic artifacts exposed by the receding tide. As it started to get dark, I switched on my trusty head lamp to illuminate the gravel river bed along the water line. On a beautiful, summer evening in July 2018, I went mudlarking to take advantage of the super low, night tide. ![]()
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