Antique Gold Mourning Ring with Blue Enamel for Nobleman Date 1772
Have you ever wanted to own a piece of Royal or Noble significance? Have you ever longed for that perfect Georgian era mourning ring? Is an antique blue enamel piece on your jewellery bucket list? Look no further! I have an exceptional example of British Noble History ready to meet its new forever collection.
The Old Mine Cut Rock Crystal dimensions are approximately: 7.88x10.01x5.5mm. It has an approximate weight of 2.5-3.0cts and is in a closed and foiled setting. It is strongly recommended that this ring not be submerged or in a setting in which it will have prolonged exposure to water. It has been estimated that this ring had the central stone replaced, in antiquity, C. 1800. Given that it's a piece with provenance it is suspected that the original stone was damaged and the owner felt it appropriate to save and repair the ring.
Now, for the history and background on Earl George Henry Lee II...
George Henry Lee II, 3rd Earl of Lichfield PC (21 May 1718 – 17 September 1772) was a British politician and peer. He was made a Privy Councillor and Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms in 1762, holding both honors until death. Previously, he had served as Member of Parliament for Oxfordshire from 1740 until acceding to the peerage in 1743.
He was born at Windsor Castle on 21 May 1718, the son of George Henry Lee I, 2nd Earl of Lichfield and his wife, Frances Hales. From birth he was styled Viscount Quarendon. In the family tradition, he was educated at St John's College, Oxford. On 14 February 1732 he was made an M.A. of Oxford. In 1740 and from 1741 to 1742, he served as Member of Parliament (MP) for the county of Oxford, and in the next year, upon the death of his father on 15 February 1743, Viscount Quarendon became the 3rd Earl of Lichfield.
He went on to earn his D.C.L. of Oxford on 25 August 1743. 23 years later, on 19 August of the year 1760, Lichfield received the great position of High Steward of the University of Oxford. On 9 December 1760, he became Lord of the Bedchamber to King George III; and on 12 July 1762, Captain of the Band of Gentlemen Pensioners. He joined the Privy Council on 14 July 1762. He replaced George Huddesford as the Deputy Ranger of Hampton Court Park in July 1762. Finally, on 23 September 1762, he assumed the role of Chancellor of the University of Oxford.
In brief, he earned his D.C.L. of Oxford degree on 27 September 1762; became a Vice-President of the Society of Arts; and a Deputy Lieutenant for Oxfordshire county on 17 October 1763.
He married Diana (or Dinah - dependent on sources), daughter of Sir Thomas Frankland; they had no children, and the Earldom of Lichfield passed to his uncle Robert Lee upon his death on 19 September 1772.
End of the line
The 3rd and 4th Earls, George Henry II and Robert Lee respectively, died without issue, therefore the estate eventually reverted to the 2nd Earl's eldest surviving daughter, and sister of the 3rd Earl, Lady Charlotte Lee. In 1744 Charlotte had married the 11th Viscount Dillon. Their son Charles Dillon, 12th Viscount Dillon inherited the estate of Ditchley but not the title. Ditchley remained the home of the Viscounts Dillon until 1934.
The title was created for a third time when Thomas Anson was created Earl of Lichfield in the 1831 coronation honors of William IV.
Size: UK L / US 5.5
Metal: 18ct+ Yellow Gold (tests between 18 and 22ct yellow gold)
Weight: 4.38 grams
Stone: 2.5-3.0 carats (only estimation based on face size and depth of setting)
Markings: IN•MEMY OF GEO:HEN:EARL•OF•LITCHFIELD•1772
Condition: In excellent antique condition, minimal enamel wear
Creation and explanation of the title: Earl
Earl is the third rank of the Peerage, standing above the ranks of Viscount and Baron, but below Duke and Marquess.
Before King Canute (c. 994-1035) an ‘ealdorman’ administered a shire or province for the king. Under Canute the Danish equivalent of earl was introduced, and under the Norman kings the title became hereditary, although the earls eventually lost some of their responsibilities as the king’s representatives in the county to the sheriff.
As with dukes, the dignity of earl was conferred by the fastening of a ceremonial sword to a belt or girdle (cincture). In time, a ceremonial cape and golden circlet (placed on the head) were added to the ceremony. In 1615, under King James I, these rites ceased. All earldoms were conferred by letters patent under the Great Seal, which represents the Sovereign’s authority.
From the reign of King Richard II (1377-99) earldoms were either life creations or hereditary with ‘remainder to heirs male’ (the inheritance of the title was restricted to direct male heirs of the original title-holder). Some Scottish earldoms may be inherited by a woman or pass through the female line.
At present there are 191 earls (not including the Earl of Wessex and courtesy earldoms), and four countesses in their own right. The premier earl of England and Ireland is the Earl of Shrewsbury and Waterford (created 1442). The premier earl on the Union Roll is the Earl of Crawford and Balcarres (created 1398).
The most recent earldom to be created is Stockton, created in 1984. Since 1989 four earldoms have become extinct, Amherst, Monsell, Sondes and Munster, and Breadalbane is dormant. A title generally falls dormant in circumstances when a peer dies and, although it is believed that there may be heirs to the title in existence, (a) their whereabouts may not be known, or (b) there is insufficient documentary evidence for an heir to prove that he is in fact the next heir of line to the late peer.
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