Georgian Hairwork Miniature Ring

A Georgian yellow gold mourning ring depicting a church scene in hair in a ruby surround. It was believed that a ruby could protect you from all kinds of witchcraft, plague and famine, so it was appropriate to use in jewellery to protect both the living and the dead. The shank is enamelled in black which signifies that the person commemorated had been married. White enamel shanks were for virgins. The shank reads “Robt (robert) Ockley ob (died) 1 aug 1773 ae (aged) 64”.