Victorian mourning jewellery is a fascinating aspect of the era's cultural history. In the Victorian era, death was a pervasive and ever-present part of life. High mortality rates, especially among infants and children, meant that death was something that everyone had to confront at some point. In response to this, the Victorians developed a highly ritualized and formalized approach to mourning, which extended to the way they expressed their grief through clothing, jewellery, and other material artifacts.
Mourning jewellery was a popular form of expression of grief during the Victorian era. These pieces of jewellery were worn by mourners to commemorate the deceased, and were often highly symbolic and personalized. The most common forms of mourning jewellery were brooches, rings, lockets, and bracelets. These pieces were typically made of black jet, onyx, or vulcanite, and were sometimes adorned with pearls, diamonds, or other precious stones.
One of the most interesting aspects of Victorian mourning jewellery was the way it was personalized to reflect the individuality of the deceased. Hair was often used in mourning jewellery as a way of creating a tangible connection to the deceased. Hair could be woven into intricate patterns or encased in glass, allowing mourners to carry a physical piece of their loved one with them at all times.
Another common feature of Victorian mourning jewellery was the use of symbolism. For example, a brooch in the shape of a weeping willow was often worn as a symbol of mourning. A ring with a black enamel band might be engraved with the initials of the deceased, along with a motto or inscription expressing grief or remembrance. Similarly, a locket might contain a miniature portrait of the deceased, along with a lock of their hair.
Victorian mourning jewellery was not just about commemorating the deceased, but also about expressing one's own grief and mourning. Jewellery was often worn for a period of mourning, which could last anywhere from several months to several years, depending on the relationship to the deceased. During this time, mourners were expected to dress in black and to avoid socializing or participating in public events.
While mourning jewellery may seem macabre to modern sensibilities, it was a deeply meaningful and personal way for Victorians to express their grief and to remember their loved ones. Today, Victorian mourning jewellery remains highly collectible and continues to fascinate people with its intricate beauty and emotional resonance.
Queen Victoria's personal experience of loss had a significant impact on the popularity and cultural significance of mourning jewellery during the Victorian era. In 1861, the queen's beloved husband, Prince Albert, died at the age of 42. The queen was devastated by his loss and went into mourning for the rest of her life, becoming a symbol of the era's preoccupation with death and grief.
As a result of the queen's prolonged mourning, mourning jewellery became even more popular and widespread throughout the Victorian era. In fact, the demand for mourning jewellery was so great that many jewellers specialized in creating these pieces exclusively.
The jewellery that Queen Victoria wore during her mourning period also had a significant impact on the styles and materials used in mourning jewellery during the era. Queen Victoria often wore jewellery made of jet, a type of black fossilized wood that was particularly popular for mourning jewellery. Other materials used in mourning jewellery included onyx, vulcanite, and black enamel.
The use of hair in mourning jewellery also became more common during the Victorian era, in part due to the queen's influence. After Prince Albert's death, Queen Victoria had a number of pieces of jewellery made containing locks of his hair, which she wore as a way of keeping him close to her.
Overall, the popularity of mourning jewellery during the Victorian era was deeply intertwined with the queen's own personal experience of loss and grief. Today, Victorian mourning jewellery remains an important part of the era's cultural legacy, serving as a powerful reminder of the ways in which people in the past expressed their emotions and experiences through material culture.
