18th century AD. A gold ring with hoop carinated around the internal face, bezel formed as twin heart-shaped cells set with turquoise coloured glass and garnet, gadrooning to the undersides, the external face of the hoop with French inscription in reserved seriffed capitals: 'MOI SEUL EN . AI . LA CLEF', ('I alone hold the key'), the words punctuated by clusters of decorative vertical notches; remains of niello infill around the lettering. Cf. The British Museum, museum numbers AF.1669 and AF.1641, for a very similar style of ring; cf. The Portable Antiquities Scheme Database, id. HESH-4BDAD2, dated 1750-1900, for a similar style with a single heart-shaped cell. 0.97 grams, 17.34mm overall, 14.51mm internal diameter (approximate size British H, USA 3 3/4, Europe 6.18, Japan 6) (3/4"). From the Albert Ward collection, Essex, UK; acquired on the UK antiques market between 1974-1985. ‘Posy’ is derived from ‘poesy’ or ‘poetry’. In the medieval period many rings bore posy inscriptions in Latin or French, the languages frequently spoken by the affluent elites. Later, inscriptions in English became more usual, although the lack of standardised spelling might surprise the modern reader. The inscription is generally found on the interior of the ring, hidden to everyone except the wearer and most of the sentimental mottoes were taken from the popular literature of the time. In fact, love inscriptions often repeat each other, which suggests that goldsmiths used stock phrases. In the later 16th century, ‘posy’ specifically meant a short inscription. A posy is described in contemporary literature as a short ‘epigram’ of less than one verse. George Puttenham (1589) explained that these phrases were not only inscribed on finger rings, but also applied to arms and trenchers. The practice of giving rings engraved with mottoes at betrothals or weddings was common in England from the 16th century onwards, and continued until the late 18th century. Sources suggest that rings could be acquired ready- engraved, or alternatively engraved sometime after their initial production, by a hand other than the goldsmith’s. Joan Evans assumed that posy rings were principally used by/between lovers and distinguished four contexts for the giving of posy rings by one lover to another: betrothals, weddings, St Valentine’s Day and occasions of mourning. Samuel Pepys’ diary makes clear that posy rings might also mark the marriage of a family member, when bearers could even commission their own rings and chose their own mottoes from books. The rings could also function as tokens of friendship or loyalty. [A video of this lot is available to view on Timeline Auctions Website] [No Reserve] Condition Report Fine condition.