Antique Mourning Brooch
About This Piece:
This mourning brooch is oval intricate wirework surrounding a faceted black stone made of either Jet or French Jet. I am unable to identify. Beautiful wire work on the back includes a a traditional "eternal knot" design. Includes free shipping and free gift wrap.
Dimensions:
Oval 1-3/4" x 1-1/2"
Stone 1" x 7/8"
About Mourning Jewelry:
Mourning jewelry represents a connection to a deceased love one. Mourning jewelry often features a tribute to the subject, commonly with an inscription, their initials, an eternal knot, lock of hair, a cameo or silhouette of the subject. Mourning jewelry comes in many styles but most notable were brooches, hair pins, tie pins, memorial rings and lockets. Materials used vary but most is made of jet, because of its dark black color. Less expensive alternatives include "French Jet" or enamel.
Queen Victoria made black jewelry fashionable buy after the death of Prince Albert in 1861. This is why it is widely associated with the Victorian Era, although mourning jewelry dates back to the 16th Century.
Some mourning pieces are quite macabre with symbols of memento mori - a reminder that we all will die. Some contained skulls, coffins, or gravestones. Later pieces were more sentimental of the deceased and might include intricate designs made of hair, sentiments such as "beloved" or "in memory" or images of forget-me-knot flowers, angels, or cameos of the departed.
Product code: Victorian Mourning Brooch / Eternal Knot buy / Jet / Free Gift Wrap