![[Poison Ring] Rare 18th Century Intaglio Poison Ring](http://www.schubertiademusic.com/cdn/shop/files/INTAGLIOPOISONRING23922.png?v=1764013701)
![[Poison Ring] Rare 18th Century Intaglio Poison Ring](http://www.schubertiademusic.com/cdn/shop/files/ScreenShot2025-01-10at12.21.25PM.png?v=1764013701)
Fine shield shaped carved intaglio, ca. 18th century, depicting a moor's head in profile with incised text "Duris non Frangor." In a solid gold setting, the top opening to reveal a hidden poison compartment. Size M 1.2. 4.1 grams, testing 15 ct. gold.
The Latin phrase Duris Non Frangor translates to "I am not disheartened by difficulty" or "I am not broken by hardships" and is associated, with the Moor's head, with the The Muir family of Scotland and the Mure line of Caldwell.
The Muir surname is descriptive of living beside a moor, or heathland, although some say that it denotes size, the Gaelic for “large” being “mor.” A Thomas de la More was executor of the Will of Dervorguilla de Balliol, mother of King John Bailliol, in 1291, and several of the name rendered homage to Edward I in 1296. In the 15th century, the Mures fought for James IV at the Battle of Flodden, and supported Mary Queen of Scots during her minority. As reformed Protestants, however, they soon found themselves in opposition to her party and, in the century that followed, were persecuted for being Covenanters. For allowing meetings to be held at Rowallan, William Mure of Rowallan was imprisoned at Stirling, then Edinburgh.
A poison ring or pillbox ring is a type of ring with a container under the bezel or inside the bezel itself which could be used to hold poison or another substance. First popular in Western Europe during the Middle Ages, the poison ring was used to slip poison into an enemy's food or drink; in other cases, the poison ring was used to facilitate the suicide of the wearer in order to preclude capture or torture.
Fine shield shaped carved intaglio, ca. 18th century, depicting a moor's head in profile with incised text "Duris non Frangor." In a solid gold setting, the top opening to reveal a hidden poison compartment. Size M 1.2. 4.1 grams, testing 15 ct. gold.
The Latin phrase Duris Non Frangor translates to "I am not disheartened by difficulty" or "I am not broken by hardships" and is associated, with the Moor's head, with the The Muir family of Scotland and the Mure line of Caldwell.
The Muir surname is descriptive of living beside a moor, or heathland, although some say that it denotes size, the Gaelic for “large” being “mor.” A Thomas de la More was executor of the Will of Dervorguilla de Balliol, mother of King John Bailliol, in 1291, and several of the name rendered homage to Edward I in 1296. In the 15th century, the Mures fought for James IV at the Battle of Flodden, and supported Mary Queen of Scots during her minority. As reformed Protestants, however, they soon found themselves in opposition to her party and, in the century that followed, were persecuted for being Covenanters. For allowing meetings to be held at Rowallan, William Mure of Rowallan was imprisoned at Stirling, then Edinburgh.
A poison ring or pillbox ring is a type of ring with a container under the bezel or inside the bezel itself which could be used to hold poison or another substance. First popular in Western Europe during the Middle Ages, the poison ring was used to slip poison into an enemy's food or drink; in other cases, the poison ring was used to facilitate the suicide of the wearer in order to preclude capture or torture.