Vintage & Antique Mourning Jewellery: A Window Into Love, Loss, & Memory
Vintage and antique mourning jewellery is one of the most fascinating—and emotional—forms of jewellery ever created...
Popular from the 17th century through the Victorian era, these pieces were worn to honour loved ones who had passed away, serving as intimate reminders of connection, grief, and devotion. Today, they are highly collectible not only for their beauty, but also for the deep stories they carry.
A Tradition Rooted in Memory
Mourning jewellery became especially fashionable in the Georgian (1714–1837) and Victorian (1837–1901) eras, when society placed great importance on ritual, remembrance, and symbolism. These pieces were worn by family members as part of mourning customs, which could last months—or even years—depending on the relationship.
Materials Filled With Meaning
Every element of mourning jewellery held symbolic weight:
- Jet – A black fossilized wood from Whitby, England, prized for its deep gloss. Jet became the iconic material of Victorian mourning jewellery.
- Onyx & Black Enamel – Used to represent grief, solemnity, and eternity.
- Gold – Often used in earlier Georgian pieces; later, lower-carat gold and gold-filled metals were common.
- Seed Pearls – Tiny pearls symbolising tears.
- Hairwork – Locks of the loved one’s hair woven into intricate patterns, set behind glass, or braided into chains and rings. Though unusual today, hairwork jewellery was considered a powerful and deeply personal keepsake.
Styles & Motifs
Mourning jewellery often featured symbolic imagery:
- Urns – Classical symbols of remembrance.
- Weeping willows – Representing sorrow and mourning.
- Obelisks and tombs – Common in Georgian miniatures.
- Forget-me-nots – A promise of eternal memory.
- Skulls and skeletons – Earlier “memento mori” pieces reminding wearers of life’s fragility.
Many pieces also included inscriptions, often in gold lettering, reading “In Memory Of”, along with initials or full names and dates.
A Collector’s Dream
Today, antique mourning jewellery is prized for its craftsmanship, emotional depth, and historical context. Each piece is a unique artefact—handcrafted, deeply symbolic, and often passed down through generations. Collectors appreciate these items not just for their beauty but because they reveal a personal story: a glimpse into someone’s life, love, and loss from hundreds of years ago.
Why It Still Matters
Mourning jewellery reminds us that people of the past felt the same love and grief we feel today. These pieces are intimate, expressive, and timeless—miniature memorials that continue to honour those who came before us. For antique lovers, historians, and jewellery collectors, mourning jewellery represents one of the most meaningful categories in the world of adornment.