Victorian 18K Yellow Gold and Enamel Mourning Ring, Circa 1888
Victorian 18K yellow gold and enamel mourning ring, circa 1888. This beautifully crafted Victorian mourning ring was made in London in 1888-1889 to honor James Tabor, who died on June 26, 1888, at the age of 88. The ring features a classic black enamel inscription with gold lettering, continuing the long-standing English tradition of memorial jewelry well into the late 19-century. Its interior hallmarks include the leopard's head for London, crown 18K gold mark, maker's mark "EE," and date letter "N," confirming its Victorian origin.
By the late Victorian era, mourning jewelry remained an important expression of family loyalty and remembrance, often commissioned to mirror earlier heirlooms. Notably, this ring closely matches an earlier Georgian example honoring John Tabor, suggesting a deliberate effort to preserve family tradition across generations.
Historical sources reference members of the Tabor family in Essex during this period as prominent landholders and civic figures, including a James Tabor who became a magistrate and managed extensive agricultural holdings. While absolute identification cannot be confirmed, the timing, name, and quality of this ring align closely with that documented lineage.
Preserved together with its earlier counterpart for over a century, this ring represents a rare surviving example of Victorian memorial jewelry connected to a longstanding family legacy.
Product Details
- Metal: 18K Yellow Gold
- Ring Size: 7.25 and cannot be sized.
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