For Thee I Mourn: Mourning Jewelry as Tokens of Love and Loss
By Sarah Nehama
Saturday May 6, 2023
4:00-6:00 pm
An introduction to the History of Mourning Jewelry Including 19th Century Mourning Jewelry Styles
Mourning jewelry in Western European (and later, American) culture dates back to the 16th century but gained huge popularity in the mid- 19th century when Queen Victoria mourned the death of her beloved Prince Albert. A few years later, America was embroiled in a civil war with massive loss of life, also creating a big demand for items of mourning.
Early mourning jewelry incorporated macabre symbols reflecting on the tradition of memento mori- which literally mean, “remember you will die”. Early jewels often featured emblems of death itself; skulls, coffins, winged hourglasses, and grave digger tools. By the late 18th century, the motifs were gentler- weeping women, cypress and weeping willow trees, draped urns, and angels.
Mourning jewelry represents a connection to a deceased loved one and will often features a tribute to the subject, commonly with a memorial inscription, their initials, a lock of their hair, a small painted portrait, or a photograph. By the time of the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, and certainly by the end of WWI, mourning jewelry had fallen out of favor due to changing cultural attitudes around death.
Topics of Sarah's discussion will include:
An Introduction to the History of Mourning Jewelry
19th Century Mourning Jewelry Styles
Queen Victoria’s influence
American Civil War
Hairwork jewelry
Photographic jewelry
How to identify mourning vs. sentimental jewelry
Sarah's discussion will take place in the Lincoln Avenue Church located at Heritage Square Museum
Refreshments will be served.
General Admission: $30 per person
HSM Members Admission: $25 per person
Proceeds benefit the restoration and preservation of Heritage Square Museum.
No refunds.
Photo credits::
1807 Ring: English gold ring with onyx for Lucy Cooper
Victorian Hairwork: Hairwork earrings and a bracelet, along with a tradecard, 1830-1880s
Ambrotype Brooch- a gold-filled swivel brooch housing an ambrotype of a gentleman, c. 1850
The companion book to the exhibition: In Death Lamented The Tradition of Anglo-American Mourning Jewelry
About The Presenter
Sarah Nehema
Website: sarahnehama.com
Instagram: @sarahnehama
Jewelry Instagram: @sarahnehamajewelry
Sarah Nehama is a working studio jeweler and antique jewelry collector and dealer with a degree in art history.
In 2012 Sarah Nehama co-curated an exhibition with the Massachusetts Historical Society called In Death Lamented: The Tradition of Anglo-American Mourning Jewelry, and Sarah was a primary lender. Sarah wrote the companion volume of the same name. She has lectured on the topic of mourning and sentimental jewelry at museums, historical societies, jewelry associations, and antique symposia, in person and online, in both the US and in Australia.