Memento Mori Ring, anonymous, c. 1640 - c. 1660
This gold ring is ornamented with memento mori (remember that you must die), or vanitas, motifs. The passage in the opened book ‘’t Leven is mijn Christi, Sterven is mijn Gewin’ (For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain), the skull with the hourglass, and the angel reminded the ring’s wearer of the transience of earthly life. Inscribed on the inside of it is: ‘ons leven is een schadú op aerde’ (our life on earth is a shadow).