A truly superb and extremely rare collection of mourning rings, (fourteen in total) relating to the Smyth family of Ashton Court near Bristol, their home for four hundred years (1545 - 1945). The rings are gold (18ct) and enamel, in five cases they contain organic material, mainly woven hair and in all cases they name the deceased and the dates of death which range from 1726 - 1848 Their display case compliments the wonderful quality of the rings, being glazed front brass with leather easel back, a brass label is engraved 'The Smyth Family Mourning Rings'. display case measures 12.2cm x 21.5cm x 1.6cm Rings numbered left to right, top to bottom 1. ''Thos. Smythe Esq OB 11 Mar 1800 AE 60'' (hallmarked but carat obscure enamel ext. name etc.) 2. As no. 1 3. ''Jane Smyth OB 3 Dec 1818 Aet 79'' (unmarked, hair panel outside, inscription inside) 4. In Memory Of (outside with hair panel) inscription inside ''Sir Hugh Smyth Bart OB 28 Jan 1824 Aet 52'' - 18ct 5. As no. 3 6. Floral outer panel, inscription ''Thos Smyth Upton Esq Ob March 10th 1848 Ae 18 years'' - unmarked. 7. ''Dame Florence Smyth ob. 10 Sept 1767 Ae66'' (exterior inscription, unmarked within) 8. ''Sr Jarrit Smyth Bt Ob 18 Jan 1783 Ae 90'' (unmarked) 9. ''In Memory of'' (exterior inscription with hair panel) ''Jane wife of Hugh Smyth Esq M. 1796 D. 1797'' (internal inscription) - 18ct 10. ''Lady Ann Smyth Ob 9 Sep 1733 Ae 36'' (external inscription, hair panel - unmarked) 11. ''Sr John Smyth Bt Ob 19 May 1726 Ae 66'' (external inscription and hair panel - unmarked within) 12. ''In Memory of'' (exterior inscription) ''Lady Smyth Ob 29 Oct 1819 Aet 64'' (internal inscription - no marks) 13. ''Ann Smyth Ob 21 Dec 1760 Ae 68'' (exterior inscription - no marks) white enamel 14. ''Sr Jarrit Smyth Bart Ob 18 Jan 1783 Ae 90'' (exterior inscription - no marks within) Marked for 18ct gold - no.4 : 1824; no. 9 : 1797 and also probably but marks worn no's 1 & 2 : 1800 All with black enamel except no. 13, no's 1 & 2 also have white enamel bands Hair panels in no's. 3, 4, 5, 9, 10 & 12