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Auction: 25004 - British and World Coins and Medals
Lot: 257

The William Hewer Enamel Memorial Ring (c. 1715-1716), faceted oval cut glass setting within a plain oval bezel, hair or textile likely originally beneath, entirety of the outer surface decorated with floral motifs of foliage and thistles, highlighted by a background of niello or black enamel, almost completely intact, D-shaped band in cross section, the inner surface of the band engraved with the inscription, 'Wm Hewer. arm. obt 3. Dec 1715. aet 74’, translating to 'William Hewer Esquire died 3rd December 1715, aged 74', a faint maker's mark follows, diameter 21.19mm, width 4.67mm, thickness 2.15mm, 6.10g, ring size approx. N, [Spink XRF: 87.3% Gold; 8.7% Silver; 4.0% Copper] (cf. PAS: BERK-B28F95, cf. PAS: YORYM-FED2E9; cf. BM AF.1613, AF.1614, AF.1615; cf. V&A M.371-1923, 1119-1864), this large, complete, wearable, and characteristic example of an early 18th century memento mori ring was discovered by a metal detectorist back in 2021, two edge knocks on the ring, from being kissed by the trowel, above the 'ew' of Hewer and 'ec' of Dec, maker's mark not decipherable, inscribed to the memory of William Hewer, Samuel Pepys' "most deare friend" and executor of his will. Hewer is mentioned over three hundred times in Pepys' diary, arguably the most famous eye-witness account of England in the seventeenth century.

Provenance

Found in Alderbury (Wiltshire), 11th November 2021

~ Recorded with the British Museum (ref. PAS-DEV-E56548) ~

Declared as treasure but returned to finder as museum unable to acquire

https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1045144



According to XRF analysis, the gold purity is 20 carat

The setting's thermal conductivity has been tested, and the reading for a diamond was negative




"And I pray my most approved and most deare friend William Hewer of Clapham in the County of Surrey Esquire to take the Trouble as my Executor of Seeing this is my Will performed and to accept of the said Summe of Five hundred Pounds as a very Small Instance of my Respect and most Sensible Esteem of his more than filiall affection and Tendernesse Expressed towards me through all the Occurences of my Life for Forty Yeares past unto this day..." (Samuel Pepys' Will)



The inscription on this mourning ring commemorates William Hewer, who died at the age of seventy-four on 3rd December 1715. He was not only a notable historic figure in that he became MP for Yarmouth and was responsible for the accounts of the Navy Special Commission, but he is mostly remembered for his close connection to iconic diarist Samuel Pepys. He worked as a clerk for Pepys and is mentioned hundreds of times in his diaries, both as a member of staff and a trusted companion. Anyone who has read the diary of Samuel Pepys will be familiar with Hewer.



Pepys lived with him at several points: in his own lodgings and then later at Hewer's residences near The Strand and then his estate in the village of Clapham. Pepys died in 1703 at Hewer's Clapham Common home, leaving in his custody, his entire library. The two men were undoubtably close after 40 years of knowing one another, demonstrated further by Pepys' decision to make him executor of his will and leaving him the equivalent of about £50,000 in today's money.



William Hewer's own will does not make specific reference to leaving money to make memento mori rings, only for 'mourning,' but given that a substantial portion of his estate was left to his godson (Hewer Edgeley-Hewer), it is quite possible that this found ring belonged to him.



William Hewer is one of the closest figures to the great diarist Samuel Pepys, who has achieved global notoriety, is therefore by proxy also of significant historical note. He was the executor of Pepys' will, was custodian of Pepys' library and had the responsibility of resolving its long-term future. Hewer also had his own book collection and commissioned one of the earliest bookpile design bookplates used in England, in 1699.


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Sold for
£8,500

Starting price
£7000