HYSLOP FAMILY BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS GEORGIAN ROSE GOLD, HAIR-WORK, AND PEARL MOURNING RING, having an octagonal top with a frame of 22 pearls approximately 2.5 mm in diameter and four seed pearls, center featuring hair tied in a cross or four-leaf clover motif with dark blue enameling or glass background, topped by glass with an oval cut-out to center, on a wide band having reticulated sides, probably later cut and fitted with a peg and holes for adjustable size, interior engraved "Mr.. Wm.. Hyslop / Obt.. 4 Augt 1796 / At.. 84. / Mrs.. Mehitable Hyslop / Obt.. 19 Novr 1792 / At.. 74.", presented in a Georgian red leather ring box with silk interior lining. Unmarked, tested less than 10K gold fineness, possibly 9K gold fineness. Total weight including non-gold components: 7.5 grams. Late 18th/early 19th century. Largest ring size 9 1/2.
Catalogue Note: William Hyslop (c.1712-1796) and Mehitable [Mehetabel/Mehitabel] Stoddard (1719-1792) married on October 25, 1750 in Boston, Massachusetts. They had at least five children, James, William, David, Elizabeth, and Mehetabel. Only David and Elizabeth lived after 1792, so one of them likely owned this ring.

The important collection of H. Marshall Goodman Jr., Richmond, VA.

Band with breaks to one side at edge of top, probably cut at bottom and fitted with adjustable hardware, and having some bending, glass center possibly formerly fitted with an object or stone, hair slightly unraveling under glass, otherwise in good to very good condition with some wear and surface scratches; ring box with some wear mostly along edges, interior with worn areas, stains/discoloration, and spots of shattering.