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Thursday, January 6, 2011

Mourning Cameo

I am going to join The French Cupboard for Vintage Black Friday.   This cameo is a mourning cameo.  Mourning jewelry was worn in remembrance of a lost loved one and was very common in the 19th century.  Queen Victoria brought the practice of wearing mourning jewelry to a very fashionable height.  After the death of Prince Albert, she stayed in permanent mourning until she died forty years later.  The cameo is made from fossilized coal called jet.  (Source: Antique Trader)

And of course I can't just show you the cameo, so I made a vignette.  

How do you like the cloche?  I found this today at the thrift store.  It isn't old but, I thought it would be great with this post.  I found this silver brush recently too.  The silver sugar hasn't got a lid but it makes a great vase.

Go and visit The French Cupboard  for more vintage black finds. 
And also, Silver Sunday at Gypsy Fish Journal for silver treasures.
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9 comments:

  1. PamelaJanuary 6, 2011 at 5:59 PM

    I love the cloche. It is responsible for a good bit of drooling on my keyboard.

    I don't think I've ever seen a black cameo. Thank you for taking the time to explain about it. I loved hearing that Queen Victoria went into permanent mourning after Prince Albert died.

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  2. LoriJanuary 6, 2011 at 6:43 PM

    I have never seen a black cameo. Is pretty though.

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  3. SueJanuary 6, 2011 at 8:02 PM

    Oh...interesting and just very cool. I saw the title and thought maybe a pet died:) I love the cloche!

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  4. UnknownJanuary 6, 2011 at 8:03 PM

    What a gorgeous piece. I have some mourning pieces made from hair...I know kind of weird but they are pieces from my husband's family and I do find them interesting....and if you didn't know it was hair, they are sort of pretty.

    Blessings!
    Gail

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  5. Blondie's JournalJanuary 6, 2011 at 8:26 PM

    Beautiful vignette, Sherry! I love that cloche and the birds nest is the perfect piece to put inside!

    Interesting story about the mourning cameo and Queen Victoria. Imagine mourning for that long.

    XO,
    Jane

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  6. Honey at 2805January 7, 2011 at 1:20 AM

    Lovely vignette and intersting history about mourning jewelry. I really enjoy vintage items with history or stories attached. I did a post on 12/24 about my great-grandparents Christmas wedding anniversary and dark wedding dresses. I would be delighted if you read it.

    I always, always enjoy your blog.

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  7. Julie WoodsJanuary 7, 2011 at 4:48 AM

    Really interesting thank you x

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  8. DebbieJanuary 7, 2011 at 5:39 AM

    I'm crazy about that cloche and was hoping that you would say that you just got it at HomeGoods or some such place so that I could zip out and try to copy it for my guest bath. I have a little bird thing going on in there.

    And I love the black cameo! I have always thought that the concept of a mourning period was so interesting for a variety of reasons.

    Plus, I have always loved how Queen Victoria loved her Albert. I "get" that.

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  9. ErinJanuary 7, 2011 at 6:42 AM

    That is beautiful. I love cameos, and have never seen a mourning cameo, so thanks for sharing. Lovely vignette:)

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