{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1767078"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1767078/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2024NX5030/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2024NX5030/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2024NX5030","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1767078/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1767078","accessionNumber":"WE.4297-2014","objectType":"Mourning ring","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"From the early seventeenth to the end of the nineteenth century, testators left money in their wills to have rings with commemorative inscriptions made and distributed to their friends and families. Simple bands enamelled with the name and life dates of the deceased were frequently made. In the later 18th century, rings followed neo-classical designs, their oval bezels often decorated with the same designs as funerary monuments such as urns, broken pillars and mourning figures. Hair from the deceased was incorporated into the designs or set in a compartment at the back of the ring to give each jewel a uniquely personal element. Black or white enamel were favoured though white enamel was often, though not universally used to commemorate children and unmarried adults. The ring commemorates Tom Wedgwood (1771-1805), the third surviving son of Josiah and Sarah Wedgwood.","physicalDescription":"Mourning ring for Josiah Wedgwood, gold, enamel, human hair and pearls; head of the ring is inset with human hair, mounted with a rectangular layer of faceted crystal; the inset is encircled by fourteen seed pearls; left and right shoulder of head decorated with white and black enamel.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"gold","id":"AAT11021"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Gold, enamel, human hair and pearls","categories":[{"text":"V&A Wedgwood Collection","id":"THES276060"},{"text":"Jewellery","id":"THES48930"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"WED","id":"THES270009"},"images":["2024NX5030"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"WDG2","id":"THES292798"},"free":"","case":"LC32.3","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"mourning rings","id":"AAT212038"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1805","earliest":"1800-01-01","latest":"1809-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"V&A Wedgwood Collection. Presented by Art Fund with major support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, private donations and a public appeal.","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"10","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"23","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Tho Wedgwood Esq. / Ob. 10 July 1805 / at 34' (engraved on reverse)","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":"Given by Miss Eliza Wedgwood. June 30th 1932.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Mourning ring for Tom Wedgwood, gold, enamel, human hair and pearl, ca. 1805","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Wedgwood, Thomas","id":"AUTH393515"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"32.05 Group of mourning rings, all inlaid in gold. Two relating to Josiah I, inscribed 'ob:3 jan 1795 ae 64'; one relating to Sarah, his wife, inscribed: 'Died 15 Jan 1815 Aged 80', one relating to Tom Wedgwood, with a lock of hair surrounded by 14 pearls, inscribed 'ob. 10 July 1805, aged 34'.\nGallery text written in 2008.","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["WE.4297-2014"],"accessionNumberNum":"4297","accessionNumberPrefix":"WE","accessionYear":2014,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"Wedgwood Museum Accession number","id":"THES269972"},"number":"4919"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-11-04","recordCreationDate":"2023-10-13","availableToBook":false}}