Memento mori 17th century ring /

Exceptional gold ring with a bezel in the form of a skull resting on two crossbones. The skull is white enamelled with black highlights. The eyes are set with small diamonds. On the shoulders of the ring, on each side of the bezel, table-cut diamonds are set in tulip-shaped bezel. The back of the bezel is black enamelled and traces of black enamel is still visible at the junction of the annel and the shoulders.

This type of ring is very rare. The theme of the "vanity" refers to the words of Ecclesiastes and serves as a support for meditation devotees.

Provenance: private collection Venetian. Published and illustrated in color: Piero Pazzi, I gioielli nella civiltà veneziana, Treviso, 1995.