173 years old and in excellent condition!
Victorian poison ring / locket ring hallmarked Malmö Sweden 1846 by maker Gustav Dahlgren Co, 18K gold.
Size 7 ½ / 55,5 re-sizable
The ring features a hinged enameled compartment on top These types of compartment are said to have held in poison. Although no such use has been factually established, there are historical (e.g. Hannibal’s death) and literary references to such rings hence the name. It has been surmised that the compartment may usually have contained perfume or a relic.
Poison rings became popular in Europe during the sixteenth century, they were used either to slip poison into an enemy’s food or drink, or to facilitate the suicide of the wearer in order to escape capture or torture.
Rings like this have been used throughout history to carry perfume, locks of hair, devotional relics, messages and other keepsakes, so they have also been known by other names, locket rings.
