18th century AD. A silver ring with exceptionally broad band, circular raised bezel depicting an incuse facing skull; the band engraved with Gothic 'BREVE ET IRREPARABILE / TEMPUS OMNIBUS VITA' inscription taken from Virgil's Aeneid 'brief and irrecoverable is the time all have of life' in two lines divided by a central segmented band; a punched 'X-above-crescent' maker's mark to the inside.19.30 grams, 24.13mm overall, 18.33mm internal diameter (approximate size British P 1/2, USA 7 3/4, Europe 16.86, Japan 16) (1"). From the private collection of a Buckinghamshire gentleman; acquired on the UK art market before 2000.

Fine condition.