Shakespeare Sonnet 29 ring / Bird ring / Lark arising ring / Joy ring / Love ring / 25th anniversary ring

This ring is an artistic response to Shakespeare's Sonnet 29 ("When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes"; full text below). On the narrow side of the ring, tears drip down, running along the ring band until, with the thought of the beloved, they transform into the lark, which takes off singing and allows the poet to escape the cycle of self-recrimination. Famously, the sonnet is comprised of a single sentence, and the unified form of the ring reflects this feat. The idea of Fortune's wheel hovers behind the ring, as the poet falls into self-doubt and sorrow toward the bottom of the wheel, and rises up as the wheel turns--but the lark isn't fully part of the wheel and offers the possibility of a life not controlled by faceless outside forces.

This is a perfect anniversary ring or love token. The traditional gift for the 25th wedding anniversary is silver.

Please note that, with the exception of size 5 1/2, the ring is a custom order and will take up to two weeks to ship.

The ring was made using the ancient technique of lost-wax casting. Lost-wax casting begins with a wax original, which is placed in a specialized mold material. The wax is melted out of the mold, and molten metal is poured in. My cast rings are carved by hand from my own sketches and designs (no 3D printing or other digital tools involved). Entirely hand-carved by me in my Connecticut studio, the wax original for this ring was cast in argentium sterling silver by an independent casting company.

When ordering your ring, choose your ring size and your desired patina (the "color" option). The ring can be made with a golden patina, as shown; in a shiny silver finish; or in a traditional black patina with silver highlights. Please message me with any custom requests, such as a matte or brushed finish.

I use only argentium sterling silver in my jewelry. Argentium sterling silver is hypoallergenic. It contains more pure silver than ordinary sterling (93.5% or 94%, vs. a minimum of 92% for other sterling). It contains no nickel. It is very durable, and unlike ordinary sterling silver, it is tarnish-resistant.
***
When in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And look upon myself and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,
Desiring this man’s art and that man’s scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least;
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven’s gate;
For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings. (William Shakespeare, Sonnet 29)