Mourning Jewelry

Events

Have you ever heard of mourning jewelry? If not, it is a fascinating view into different times in history. Known as early as the Middle Ages, mourning jewelry of this time included skulls and crossbones. Combined with the call for memento mori (remember death), it urged the wearer to live a moral life.

Fast forward to the Victorian era where mourning jewelry reached its peak. Queen Victoria set the example after the loss of her husband, Prince Albert, by wearing black crepe dresses and mourning jewelry for nearly four decades. The aristocrats and the wealthy followed suit with lockets, bracelets, necklaces and rings to memorialize their loved ones. Materials included jet, onyx, pearls, dark tortoise shell, black enamel, bog oak, vulcanite, hair and gutta percha (natural rubber made from the Southeast Asian tree). Many of the materials had a specific meaning, for example, jet symbolized grief and mourning due to its deep black color while bog oak represented strength and endurance. Inclusion of hair into jewelry was very popular as it was believed to contain a bit of the essence of the person.

The images of Victorian mourning jewelry were very different than in the Middle Ages. Instead of skulls and crossbones, winged cherubs, angels, clouds, urns and weeping willows were the popular images. This was a stark change in philosophy from God being a demanding judge to more of a father figure.

Today, you may notice that skull jewelry has become a symbol of rebellion and fearlessness and maybe a throwback to memento mori. Stop by Bridgewaters to learn how you can remember your loved ones through jewelry.