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.

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

Material

Gold, Hair, Enamel, Crystal

Provenance

Notes

Made for the funeral of Gregory Purcell (1727-1776), original owner of the home now known as the John Paul Jones House; probably by descent in his family; acquired in the twentieth century by the noted silver and jewelry scholar Martha Gandy Fales (1930-2006); by inheritance to her niece ca, 2006; consigned to Northeast Auctions, Portsmouth, March 22, 2015, lot 8; purchased at that sale by the Society with the help of several generous donors.