English, 15th century

inscribed in Gothic script on the outside of the bezel: kar bien . et . male . toutdy . ne . dure (As good and evil always endure) and on the inside of the bezel: + Coies Imale . en . nostre . coer (Quiet the evil in our heart), and traces of enamel

Found in Sinnington, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom in 2015, and subsequently registered under the Portable Antiquities Scheme, Unique ID: YORYM-965C7F; Treasure case tracking number: 2015T701.

Overall, the condition of the ring is good, with minor dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. There is a loss to the sapphire on the right side, a slight depression at the surface, and some minor stable splitting in the sapphire.There are various small chips and abrasions to the edges of the stone. There is wear to the gold, including minor surface abrasions and some scratches, particularly around the mount of the stone, and at the base of the hoop. The inscription would originally have been enamelled, and the enamelling is lost except for some white enamelling present in the two flowers. There is a slight fissure to the interior of the hoop. There is particular dirt in the inscription. The stone was verified to be a sapphire by the Gem & Pearl Laboratory, through visual examination and spectrum analysis.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The present ring is a particularly fine example of an English 15th-century posy ring and is distinguished by the presence of a large, deep blue, sapphire, seldom seen in rings of this type. Posy rings acquired their name in the late 16th-century, the word probably being derived from the word 'poésie' or 'poetry'. They comprise a certain category of rings which bear inscriptions often associated with love and courtship. The tradition of knights giving posy rings as love tokens to their ladies is believed to originate in the 13th century and many examples like the present type, with elegant Gothic script, date the the 15th century. Compare with the example published in C. Oman, British Rings 800-1914, London, 1974, no. 57c. Note also the following posy rings processed by the United Kingdom Portable Antiquities Scheme: 2013 T589 (NMS-2F0775); 2012 T849 (YORYM-4F2206); 2012 T675 (LIN-026715); and 2014 T211 (CORN-5482E1).

Tantalisingly, the present ring was discovered near Sinnington Hall near Pickering in North Yorkshire, which was owned by the posperous Latimer family from the early 14th century, eventually descending to John Neville, 3rd Baron Latimer, the first husband of Katherine Parr, who eventually became the sixth and final wife of King Henry VIII.