Post Medieval posy ring 'Live in love and love in god *'. A smoothly conforming posy ring, engraved to the interior 'Live in love and love in god *' approximately 5.9mm in width. Tested yellow gold, circa 17th century.

Accompanied by documentation from the Portable Antiquities Scheme stating that this ring was found whilst metal detecting in Ongar, Essex, in 2021.

Lettering and inscriptions can be used to narrow the dating of a ring with Oman (1974: 41) noting that inscriptions in Roman capitals were common until the second quarter of the 17th century when they were replaced by lower case and italic inscriptions which prevailed until posy rings became unfashionable in the 19th century.

The lower case lettering of this examples suggests a date from c. 1600, but with no makers mark it can be difficult to narrow the dating further, but in this instance a posy ring with a different inscription, but featuring a similar five pointed star at the end of the inscription, was found, like this example, in Essex (ESS-757F92/2017 T59) and has been dated to c. AD1600-1700, suggesting this ring also falls within that period. Other examples of rings with a similar style and inscription, which have also progressed through the treasure process, include: SOM-066C42/2020 T80 and KENT-21E814/2017 T865.

Variations on the phrase ‘Live in Love etc’ appear on a number of rings in the British Museum: AF.1326: Liue in Loue and fear the lord (17th-18th); 1961,1202.306: Live in loue like saints aboue (17th-18th); and 1961,1202.305: Live in love & fear the Lord (17th-18th). In the British Museum collections, the much shorter sentiment ‘Live in Love’ is known from 19th-century rings only.

This ring is in fine condition, commensurate with its age.

Accompanied by documentation from the Portable Antiquities Scheme stating that this ring was found whilst metal detecting in Ongar, Essex, in 2021.