Poesy rings derive their name from the old French poesie meaning "the art of poetry". The name refers to the inscriptions on the inside of the bands which carry messages of love, devotion, friendship, and loyalty. Poesy rings were worn by both men and women throughout the Middle Ages through the end of the 17th Century. It was believed that the significance of these engraved messages was amplified by wearing them against the skin. This rare, immaculate poesy ring from the late Middle Ages or early Elizabethan period is made in silver with an exterior engraved in a wheat motif - a symbol of abundance, particularly in a time when the average person subsisted on mostly bread and beer - and the interior engraved "nul autre" (French for "no other") in Medieval black letters. This ring is a size 6.5 and cannot be resized.