{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O77393"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O77393/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM6780/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM6780/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AM6780","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AX7512","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KA7039","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O77393/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O77393","accessionNumber":"13-1888","objectType":"Ring","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Object Type\r\nThe bezel (head) of this ring is enamelled in white with a death's head surrounded by the inscription 'BE HOLD THE ENDE'. The second inscription, 'RATHER DEATH THAN FALS FAYTH', runs round the edge.  On the reverse of  the bezel are the initials 'ML' connected by a true lover's knot. \r\n\r\nOwnership & Use\r\nThis ring appears to be both a memento mori ring, which reminds the wearer that she or he must die, and a marriage ring.  The second inscription on the ring ('RATHER DEATH THAN FALS FAYTH' ) and the true lover's knot that unites the two initials suggest that it was used as a betrothal or marriage ring by 'M' and 'L', although we do not know who they were.  The solemn vows of marriage are associated with death: 'till death us do part'.   \r\n\r\nThe juxtaposition of memento mori and marriage imagery would not have seemed strange to the ring’s first owner. In the painting of the ‘Judd Marriage’, 1560, now in the Dulwich Picture Gallery, marriage and death are both seen as rites of passage. The earthly, transitory nature of marriage is contrasted with the eternity of death and judgment. The couple exchange their vows over a skull whilst the motto above reads:\r\n\r\n‘The word of God\r\nHath knit us twain\r\nAnd Death shall us\r\nDivide again’\r\n\r\n\r\nPeople\r\nIn the past it was thought that the ring was a gift from Charles I (ruled 1625-1649)  to Archbishop William Juxon (1582-1663)  on the day of the King's execution, 30 January 1649.  We do not have any evidence to support this story.\r\n","physicalDescription":"","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"gold","id":"AAT11021"},{"text":"enamel","id":"AAT14910"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Gold, chased and enamelled","categories":[{"text":"Jewellery","id":"THES48930"},{"text":"Death","id":"THES48970"},{"text":"Marriage","id":"THES48921"},{"text":"Europeana Fashion Project","id":"THES265804"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006AM6780","2006AX7512","2017KA7039"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"58C","id":"THES49235"},"free":"","case":"CA3","shelf":"","box":"34"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Ring","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1550-1600","earliest":"1550-01-01","latest":"1600-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Bequeathed by Miss Charlotte Frances Gerard","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"estimated, including scrolls","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"1","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"estimated","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"2.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"estimated","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions checked: Measured; 02/06/2000 by KB/NH\n\nDimensions estimated ('measured') through display glass","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"inscribed 'BE HOLD THE ENDE' and 'RATHER DEATH THAN FALS FAYTH'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":"A8877"},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"Made in England;\r\n\r\nAspects of Age Exhibition RF.2005/727","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Gold and enamel memento mori  ring inscribed 'BE HOLD THE ENDE' and  'RATHER DEATH THAN FALS FAYTH'. England, about  1550-1600.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Oman, C.C., Catalogue of Rings (London, 1930), p.112, no.740"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":" Oman, Charles, British Rings: 800-1914 (London, 1974), cat.85 C"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":" Bury, Shirley, Jewellery Gallery Summary Catalogue (London, 1982),  p.217 (34 F 2)"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Church, Rachel, Rings (London, 2011), p.44, pl.50"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Somers-Cock, Anna, <u>Princely Magnificence: court jewels of the Renaissance, 1500-1630</u>, V&A, 1980, p.53, cat.20"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"British Galleries:\nIt was not uncommon to associate the vows of marriage with the remembrance of death. The true lovers' knot  and inscription on this ring suggest it marked a betrothal or marriage. Rings were also given to family and friends at a funeral, in commemoration of the dead.","date":{"text":"27/03/2003","earliest":"2003-03-27","latest":"2003-03-27"}},{"text":"Treasures of the Royal Courts: Tudors, Stuarts and the Russian Tsars label text:\r\n\r\nMemento mori ring\r\n1550–1600\r\n\r\nJewels decorated with skulls, coffins and crossbones reminded the wearer of the need to live a moral life because death and judgement were inevitable. The\r\ninscription ‘Rather death than fals fayth’ and the intertwined initials suggest that this ring was a lover’s gift.\r\n\r\nEngland\r\nEngraved gold and enamel\r\nInscribed ‘Be hold the ende’ and ‘Rather death than fals fayth’,\r\nand initialled ‘ML’\r\nBequeathed by Charlotte Frances Gerard\r\nV&A 13-1888","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["13-1888"],"accessionNumberNum":"13","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1888,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2016JR0330","2016JR0331","2019LN3120","2019LR0993","2019LP4208","2019LV1169"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-12","recordCreationDate":"2003-03-27","availableToBook":false}}