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Georgian Lapis Lazuli and Snake 'Poison' Mourning Ring
  • Georgian Lapis Lazuli and Snake 'Poison' Mourning Ring
  • Georgian Lapis Lazuli and Snake 'Poison' Mourning Ring
  • Georgian Lapis Lazuli and Snake 'Poison' Mourning Ring
  • Georgian Lapis Lazuli and Snake 'Poison' Mourning Ring
  • Georgian Lapis Lazuli and Snake 'Poison' Mourning Ring
  • Georgian Lapis Lazuli and Snake 'Poison' Mourning Ring
  • Georgian Lapis Lazuli and Snake 'Poison' Mourning Ring
  • Georgian Lapis Lazuli and Snake 'Poison' Mourning Ring
  • Georgian Lapis Lazuli and Snake 'Poison' Mourning Ring
  • Georgian Lapis Lazuli and Snake 'Poison' Mourning Ring
  • Georgian Lapis Lazuli and Snake 'Poison' Mourning Ring
  • Georgian Lapis Lazuli and Snake 'Poison' Mourning Ring
  • Georgian Lapis Lazuli and Snake 'Poison' Mourning Ring
  • Georgian Lapis Lazuli and Snake 'Poison' Mourning Ring
  • Georgian Lapis Lazuli and Snake 'Poison' Mourning Ring
  • Georgian Lapis Lazuli and Snake 'Poison' Mourning Ring
  • Georgian Lapis Lazuli and Snake 'Poison' Mourning Ring
  • Georgian Lapis Lazuli and Snake 'Poison' Mourning Ring
  • Georgian Lapis Lazuli and Snake 'Poison' Mourning Ring
  • Georgian Lapis Lazuli and Snake 'Poison' Mourning Ring
Georgian Lapis Lazuli and Snake 'Poison' Mourning Ring

Georgian Lapis Lazuli and Snake 'Poison' Mourning Ring

£1,950.00
An unusually fine example of Georgian mourning jewellery, with a locket atop concealed by lapis lazuli. Two snakes wrap around the finger, symbolising eternity and protection for both lost loved one and wearer. 

The term “poison ring” dates back to the Middle Ages, when it was believed that members of the aristocracy wore them to discreetly administer poison, slipping it into an enemy’s goblet or scattering it across their food without drawing attention. The ring is set with a miniature glazed compartment suitable for a miniature portrait.

Total weight: 3.96g

*Available for resize, please email for enquiries or resizing

MATERIALS:
Natural lapis lazuli and 18ct yellow gold

FINGER SIZE:
US: 4.75 UK: J EU: 49

Shipping & Delivery

All orders to the US, Canada, Australia, and the EU are delivered duty paid. Orders will be dispatched within 2–7 business days.

Delivery services operate Monday to Friday. Once your order has shipped, you will receive an email from DHL/Royal Mail with further information.

Return & Refund Information

We want you to be fully satisfied with your purchase. If for any reason, you are not completely satisfied, we are happy to accept a return for a refund. Please note that all return postage and associated costs are the buyer’s responsibility. All details can be found in our Returns Policy.

Returns must be initiated within 14 days of purchase.

Bespoke, personalised or made-to-order pieces are strictly non-refundable once production begins, unless faulty or not as described.

Please notify us as soon as you can by email at info@stapyltonsmith.com to make a return.

Warranty

We provide a Limited Lifetime Warranty on all our in-house creations (not applicable to our antiques), so you can buy with confidence. Learn More

Snake rings carried strong symbolic meaning throughout Georgian jewellery, most commonly representing eternity, protection, and renewal through the endless curve of the serpent’s body. This example combines that symbolism with another historic tradition: the “poison ring”, a term used for rings containing concealed compartments beneath hinged lids. While associated in popular imagination with aristocratic intrigue and discreet poisoning a la the Borgias, many surviving examples were used to hold miniature portraits, locks of hair, or mourning relics.

Here, the hidden compartment sits beneath a panel of lapis lazuli, its deep blue surface concealing the locket within. The double snakes wrap around the finger, creating a design both symbolic and modern in silhouette. Georgian jewellers were particularly skilled at balancing sentiment with wearability, allowing pieces to function as both personal objects and everyday adornment.

What makes this ring especially compelling is the layering of meanings within such a rather restrained piece: mourning ring, hidden locket, protective talisman, and poison ring mythology all existing beneath the surface.

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