Mourning Ring, 1769
- Description:
- This ring was made to mourn Stephen Van Rensselaer II, born in 1742 and died 1769.He was born into a great patroon family headed by Stephen Van Rensselaer and wife Elizabeth Goresbeck.Stephen II became lord of the manor house Rensselaerswyk at age five, when his own father passed away.Stephen II married Catherine Livingston, from another august New York colonial family--her mother was a Ten Broeck and her father Philip Livingston.Husband Stephen II died suddenly in 1769 at age 27 as one of the wealthiest men of the Albany area.By that time he had fathered three sons:eldest son Stephen Van Rensselaer III (1764-1839) rose to great heights.Stephen III founded Rensselaer School in 1824 (later Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) and was a congressman, business man, and kind benefactor and landlord.This ring is an exceptional piece in the collection as it was made in memory of an early and important American colonist.It is interesting to note that the first Van Rensselaer patroon, Kilaen Van Rensselaer, began trade as a silversmith near Albany.Often money was left in a will so that mourning pieces could be made.Other researchers have attributed this ring to Jacob Boelen (1733-1786) with mark IB and this is a plausible attribution; Boelen was a silversmith who worked outside of Albany.
- Date Issued:
- 1769-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Wayne State University. Libraries and The Henry Ford
- Collection:
- Digital Dress Collection
- Place:
- New York
- Subject Topic:
- Mourning Rings, Jewelry, Gold, and Enamel and enameling
- Subject Name:
- Van Rensselaer, Stephen, II, and 1742-1769
- Format:
- clothing
- Rights:
- Images are copyright The Henry Ford. Web versions may be used for reference purposes only. If you would like a higher quality image please contact the Benson Ford Research Center.
- URL:
- http://digital.library.wayne.edu/item/wayne:EM02_63_26_3