OF ME”, England 1510
With thanks to @historiante (Instagram)
A posy (or posie) is a short verse, often from a poem, inscribed on a ring.
Posy rings were first commonly worn in the 15th century. In their beginning they had bold designs and were inscribed with words on the outside of the bands.
As time went on the designs of the bands became simpler, but the inscriptions became more personal.
This forced goldsmiths to advance their techniques and learn to engrave on the inside of the rings to keep these messages private and close to the wearer.
This shows a shift, from marriage often being an agreement between families when an ornate ring signified a more profitable arrangement, to marriages founded in love, with simple rings formed from gold coins, bearing inscriptions like “Love me and leave me not” and “Two bodies, one heart.”