I’d like to introduce
myself, I’m Emmet Smith trained as a hand engraver and founded a company called Rebus Signet Rings where, within a central London store and workshop my team of
craftspeople create handmade signet rings.
This is my personal
version of a mourning ring in the spirit of Momento Mori (I already have
another signet ring that has the motto Momento Vivere ‘remember to live’
engraved into it). My father Philip Smith (aka Dickie, Detsy, the Captain) died
in 2019 and I decided to design a signet ring in his memory that I could wear
daily and remember him.
The shape is a larger
version of the Rebus Marquise, it is made from 18ct yellow gold and I have used
vitreous white and green/grey enamel.
On one shoulder I have
carved an ear. I took this idea after visiting a museum in Berlin, where there
is a permanent ancient Egyptian exhibition. I learnt that the Egyptians use of the
ear as an icon, was widespread in their art, wall carvings and worn as amulets.
These hearing or ‘Sacred Ears’ were carved into walls of temples so that people
would have the ear of their deity, to share a message with the gods and
goddess.
The symbolism of ear amulets is not
always well understood but I like the version that it is represents a person and is thus
connected to that person. I occasionally hum a tune or say a few words into
‘his ear’, it is a comfort for me. Not to mention it would appeal to my Dad’s
sense of humour and makes me chuckle sometimes.
On the top
surface I chose white enamel, as used in traditional Victorian memento mori
jewellery. Within the white enamel are raised gold letters that say ‘Not by
Words’. I was a bit of a tearaway, but he would always give me a hug in times
of trouble, he didn’t need to say a word, they were unnecessary. The phase also
is part of the Latin motto where I took the name Rebus from ‘Non verbis, sed Rebus’,
not by words but by ideas or images.
In the
centre of the ring, is a dark green coloured enamel, which references Ireland, Dad
was a very proud Irishman. The use of white enamel around green gives the
signet ring an appearance of an eye, a quality that was not planned but I’ve
always loved beautiful mistakes.
Under the
green enamel is an engraved image of a door. After Dad died, I discovered one
of his notebooks, his first and only entry was a sonnet he copied, which he may
of read from one of his books. At the end of the sonnet he wrote it was one of
the most beautiful poems he had read, it is called:
When I am
dead and laid at last to rest.
by Gamel
Woolsey
There is a
line: ‘As air that quickens at the opened door’, which struck a chord with me
and of course the image of a door is a powerful symbol and metaphor.
Our two
hearts engraved into the door need no explanation.
I wear this
ring every day, I’m not finished yet, I have another shoulder I could carve one
day and I plan to put a message inside the shank. He loved Neil Young, so maybe
a line from one of his favourite songs.
This signet
ring is reminder, a communication, and tribute to our love. Father and son.
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