Jewellery, Objects of Vertu, Silver and Watches

A late 17th century memento mori gold ring for Sir William Ellis (1609-1680), the gold band with an engraved skull motif, the eyes retaining black enamel, the interior of the band inscribed in italic script ‘Sr W E obi 2 Dece 80’, and bearing the maker’s mark ‘RM’ in Roman capitals in rectangular punch, ring size L - M, weight 4.19gm. £1,500-£2,000

This lot is a detectorist find and is registered with the The Portable Antiquities Scheme. The find number is DUR-ECA50A.

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This ring was a detectorist find, discovered in the Kirkleatham area of Redcar and Cleveland in November 2023. It is recorded on the Portable Antiquities Scheme database, ref: DUR-ECA50A, and disclaimed as Treasure, ref: 2024 T31.

Sir William Ellis (1609 - 1680) was a prominent member of the late 17th century judiciary, an MP and a parliamentarian in the English Civil War.

Born in Lincolnshire, Ellis was educated at Christ’s College, Cambridge and at Gray’s Inn, before being called to the bar in 1634. He represented Boston and Grantham in Lincolnshire as a MP and in 1654 was appointed Solicitor General. As a lawyer Ellis took part in several prominent prosecutions of Loyalists, accused of conspiring with Charles Stuart (later Charles II) to assassinate or wage war against the Lord Protector. One of Oliver Cromwell’s final acts before his death was to create Ellis a Baron, but it appears this was not honoured by his successor; Richard Cromwell did however keep him on as Solicitor General and he remained an MP.

Ellis was one of 22 Fire Court judges, responsible for sorting out the legal entanglements for the rebuilding of London following the Great Fire of 1666. The process lasted 10 years, and the judges to their great credit refused all fees. In 1669 Ellis was raised to Serjeant at Law, and in 1671 to the rank of King’s Serjeant and was knighted. His portrait (by John Michael Wright) hangs in the Royal Courts of Justice on The Strand and his arms are emblazoned in the bay window at Gray’s Inn Hall.

Ellis had various connections to the North East of England where this ring was discovered: his father was a member of The Council of the North; he himself was a member of the committee appointed to frame statutes for Durham College in 1655/6; and his sister Margaret married a gentleman from Owston in South Yorkshire.