{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O123454"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O123454/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2020MT3283/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2020MT3283/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2020MT3283","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2020MT3284","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2020MT3285","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O123454/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O123454","accessionNumber":"M.67-1949","objectType":"Ring","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The hoop of this ring is made of plaited hair set in a gold frame. The bezel is formed of a small shield, enamelled in black and set with the letters G.C. It may have been made as a memorial or mourning ring but could also have been a gift of love or friendship. Hair was widely used in jewellery in the 19th century, formed into bracelets, watch-chains or necklaces or used decoratively on ring bezels and in lockets. \n\nThe mark H.H. &amp; S. may be that of Henry Hobson and Son of Birmingham. ","physicalDescription":"Gold mourning ring, enamelled in black. The bezel in the form of a shield inscribed <i>G.C.</i> The hoop bound outside with plaited hair, with maker's mark 'H.H. & S.'","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"gold","id":"AAT11021"}],"techniques":[{"text":"enamelling","id":"AAT53773"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Enamelled and engraved gold with plaited hair","categories":[{"text":"Jewellery","id":"THES48930"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Death","id":"THES48970"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2020MT3283","2020MT3284","2020MT3285"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"004","id":"THES407866"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Ring","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1860","earliest":"1855-01-01","latest":"1864-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Mrs Mary I. Courtenay","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"2.1","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"2.1","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"0.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"inscribed <i>G.C.</i>","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"The bezel"},{"content":"marked 'H.H. & S.'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Maker's mark"},{"content":"10 C","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"The donor stated that the initials on the bezel were those of George Chapman, the grandfather of her old nurse. The ring is marked 10 carat which is not a legal standard in the United Kingdom. It was suggested that jewellers sometimes illicitly marked their goods as 10 carat to make them appear better value than the standard 9. A rough assay was made of the ring by Goldsmiths Hall and the gold was found to be around 8 to 9 carat. ","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Gold ring with black enamel shield. The bezel in the form of a shield inscribed <i>G.C.</i> The hoop bound outside with plaited hair, with maker's mark 'H.H. & S.', England, ca.1860","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"shields (motifs)","id":"AAT230284"}],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"Death","id":"x30761"},{"text":"mourning","id":"AAT238450"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["M.67-1949"],"accessionNumberNum":"67","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1949,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LU0213"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-12-12","recordCreationDate":"2006-04-28","availableToBook":true}}