Mourning ring (Gregory Purcell), possibly Boston, 1776

Jewelry

Portsmouth Historical Society

Name/Title

Entry/Object ID

2015.004

Description

Mourning ring. A small gold band with raised lettering on black enamel reading "GREGORY PURCELL ESQ. OB: 31 OCT 1776" centering a rectangular stone beneath which is probably hair. Apparently unmarked.

Collection

Portsmouth Historical Society Curatorial Collection

Acquisition

Accession

2015.004

Source or Donor

Northeast Auctions

Acquisition Method

Purchase

Credit Line

Museum purchase with funds provided by Michael Kennedy, Karen Carpenter, Richard Candee, Tom McCarron, Louise Richardson, Mary Griffin, Brad Lown, and Reagan Ruedig

Made/Created

Date made

1776

Place

City

Possibly Boston, Massachusetts, or Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Country

United States of America

Continent

North America

Dimensions

Diameter

3/4 in

Dimension Notes

Diam. 3/4 in.

Material

Gold, Hair, Enamel, Crystal

General Notes

Note

Notes: This unmarked ring is in good condition. It was probably made by a Boston silversmith, although a few local craftsmen were working in 1776 and may have made it. It is one of only a very few objects associated with the Purcell family, and the only one, albeit posthumously, linked to Gregory. It was probably owned by a family member and it may have descended in the family until entering the antiques market at an unknown date. The estate papers of Purcell, if any, need to be examined, since they might contain a bill mentioning this ring. GWRW July 16, 2015,