The Victorians had a fascination with death. After all it featured heavily in their lives from still births onwards. Memento mori is a Latin phrase meaning “remember that you will die.” It also describes mourning jewellery from the 16th through the 19th centuries. Those mourning the dead would wear these items both to remember the dead and keep reminders of one’s own mortality. Close to the body Memento Mori jewellery offered a constant reminder of time and the fleeting gift of life. Decay of the tangible (the body) and the remainders of what once existed (the skeleton and skull) encompass the meaning of Memento Mori. Ultimately, Memento Mori jewellery is saying “Remember you must die and the hour will not be known”. The snakes represent Eternity in the afterlife. These earrings are a typical and rare surviver. The skulls have been carved in bone and the snakes are 18ct gold. They were made circa 1840-1880. There is a matching pendant listed under “Pendants” on our site that match these earrings.}

The Victorians had a fascination with death. After all it featured heavily in their lives from still births onwards. Memento mori is a Latin phrase meaning "remember that you will die." It also describes mourning jewellery from the 16th through the 19th centuries. Those mourning the dead would wear these items both to remember the dead and keep reminders of one's own mortality. Close to the body Memento Mori jewellery offered a constant reminder of time and the fleeting gift of life. Decay of the tangible (the body) and the remainders of what once existed (the skeleton and skull) encompass the meaning of Memento Mori. Ultimately, Memento Mori jewellery is saying "Remember you must die and the hour will not be known". The snakes represent Eternity in the afterlife. This pendant is a typical and rare surviver. The skull has been carved in bone and the two snakes are 18ct gold. It was made circa 1840-1880. There are a pair of earrings listed under "Earrings" on our site that match this pendant.}

A striking 18ct gold oval locket that was made in 1863 judging by the inscription inside that details the life dates of George Ross. There is also a photograph of him inside. The outside has been enamelled in black with floral motifs. It is beautifully made and a good flat look.}

An interesting 18ct gold mourning ring that was made in Chester in 1893. In the centre is a black enamelled area with a natural split pearl set cross. The band has been engraved all round and has diamond shaped areas containing hair. Mourning rings to remember someone who had died were very popular throughout the 17th 18th and 19th centuries and are very collectable today. This ring cannot be resized}

A very striking and quite large 9ct gold clasp that was made circa 1800-1820. It has been set with twenty foiled flat cut almandine garnet. Within them are well matched natural split pearls. In the centre is finely woven hair so this piece of jewellery was most likely a memorial clasp and would originally been attached to seven strands of pearls or a velvet band and worn as a bracelet. It has a clasp on either side and the letters MR engraved on the reverse.}

An unusual rectangular shaped locket that opens to reveal a plaited lock of hair. It was made circa 1800-1820 when jewels that sent secret coded messages were popular. This locket spells "Love".  Each first letter of each stone is the key.  Lapis Lazuli, Opal, Vermeil Garnet & Emerald . It would have been worn to remember someone whose lock of hair it contains. Around the edge is a snake design that further accentuates the message. The snake had become symbolic of the re-birth of the deceased into the next, spiritual life.}

An unusual 15ct gold seal that was made circa 1820. It has been set with a plain faceted rectangular amethyst on the base. The amethyst has been foiled at the back to give it extra lustre. The stem of this seal is the most interesting part of it as it is composed of a coiled snake.  By the eighteenth century, the snake was no longer viewed a symbol of the decay of the corpse and had instead become symbolic of the re-birth of the deceased into the next, spiritual life so this seal was most likely a mourning jewel.}

A heavy gage 18ct gold ring that was made in London in 1864. It does have a later inscription inside the shank for 1920 which may have been the same family that it was originally made for. In the centre are four petal shaped settings set with old mine cut diamonds with a tiny rose diamond at the centre. They are surrounded by black enamel with gold decoration that echoes the floral theme. The shank has a black band on either side with the words "In memoriam". There is a locket section behind the top.}

A fat 15ct gold oval locket that was made circa 1860-1880. It has been set with two oval cabochon cut sardonyx. The clever bit was to find a stone with an oval white band within it and cut it so that you got the white band in just the right position. Within are two compartments for photographs. It also has a gold clasp so that you can easily attach it to a chain.}

A smart 15ct gold tie pin that was made circa 1880. It has been set with an oval banded sardonyx with small rose diamonds around it. It may have been a memorial tie pin as onyx was often used to remember a loved one. All our tie pins come with a stopper at the end of the pin.}

A good looking 18ct gold round pendant with a locket section on the reverse. It has been set with eight natural split pearls, eight rose diamonds and a banded sardonyx in the centre. A star shaped black enamel motif highlights the contrast between the diamonds and the pearls. The star shape motif was often used in Victorian jewellery, and were symbols of direction, and guidance for the spirit. This pendant would have been a mourning piece.}

An unusual Georgian mourning ring that was made circa 1800-1820. It is gold with a shaped paste border. Within that is a fine woven lock of hair that goes all around the navette shape. It is bordered by a gold band on both sides. The subject in the middle is of a lady in mourning seated next to an urn on a plynth with gold and rope twist detail. Above is a weeping willow tree. The attention to detail is amazing so this ring should go to a collector as it is a fine example.}

An 18ct gold pendant set with an oval banded onyx and a saltire cross set with natural split pearls. Onyx aids the development of emotional and physical strength and stamina, especially when support is needed during times of stress, confusion or grief. Pearls are for tears. A saltire, also called Saint Andrew's Cross or the crux decussata, is a heraldic symbol in the form of a diagonal cross, like the shape of the letter X in Roman type. The word comes from the Middle French sautoir, possibly owing to the shape of the triangular areas in the design. This was a mourning pendant. It has the photograph of a gentleman in the locket on the reverse.}

An unusual heart shaped pendant with a pansy set with rose diamonds in the centre. The pansy meant "Pense a moi" French for "Think of me" which was a pun on the word "Pansy". It was most likely a mourning piece as engraved on the reverse is "march 17th 1843" There is a locket section on the back that contains woven hair. Above the heart is an enamelled ribbon design with a loop at the back for a chain. It is a striking piece of jewellery.}

A lovely Georgian mourning ring with a typical simple plain shank. The top is a finely executed miniature of an obelisk monument with a weeping willow tree curved over it. This has all been done with hair. Around the miniature are small natural split pearls. Pearls were often used in mourning jewellery, and are said to represent the tears of the mourning loved ones of the deceased. I am always amazed at the detail in these early rings. They must have had very good eyesight and patience! On the reverse is engraved "R Birt Ob (died) 23 may 1773"}

A really good example of a Georgian mourning ring. It is 18ct gold and in excellent condition. It reads, "In memory of" around the shank in black enamel and is engraved with the name and date of the person commemorated inside the shank - "James Barry Obt (died) 4 nov 1847 Ae ( aged) 60."}

An early and very collectible Georgian mourning ring. On the front there is an enamelled urn with the initials 'S.F', which relate to the engraving on the back reading 'Sarah Fox, Obt (died) 10 Aug 1815, aged 82'. A lovely item with a fascinating history.}

An unusual 18ct gold memorial ring with black enamel with the words " In Memory Of" and within the shank is engraved Thomas Tennant Ob (died) 25th Dec 1833 Aed (aged) 69. The borders are unusual overlapping foliage motifs. This type of ring is highly collectable today.}

A good 18ct gold memorial ring with the words "Sacred to the memory of" in black enamel within repoussé work borders. Inside is an inscription "Wm Dent Esq died 1st jan 1823 aged 83". It is in lovely condition with a hallmark for 1804.}

A good looking 18ct gold memorial ring with an inscription inside which reads "Thomas Easter born 1811 died 18th aug 9th 1881". The outside is black enamel with a Gothick script spelling "In Memory of" The edges are repoussé work. This type of ring is collected widely today.}

A highly ornamented 15ct gold brooch in memory of "Carter Bell" which is engraved on the reverse. It was made circa 1830-1850 and has a black enamel background with Gothick lettering spelling out "In Memory Of" around a glazed oval centre containing plaited hair.}

An attractive long chain composed of faceted glass beads. It was made circa 1880 when Queen Victoria was in heavy mourning for Prince Albert and set a fashion for black jewellery. This material is sometimes called French jet which is somewhat confusing as it is not jet. However it is shinier than jet and tougher and was a very popular alternative.}

An attractive long chain composed of faceted glass beads. It was made circa 1880 when Queen Victoria was in heavy mourning for Prince Albert and set a fashion for black jewellery. This material is sometimes called French jet which is somewhat confusing as it is not jet. However it is shinier than jet and tougher and was a very popular alternative.}

An impressive Vauxhall glass guard chain that was made circa 1880 when black was very much in fashion due to the Queen Victoria's husband Prince Albert's death. Vauxhall glass is often called French jet which is somewhat confusing. It is shinier and tougher than jet and equally appealing when worn.}

A decorative necklace made from vulcanite. It is composed of cubes and circular beads and is rather modern looking although it was made in the late 1800s! Vulcanite was patented in 1846 by Goodyear (the same tyre manufacturer of today), as the patent specified a manner of mixing rubber and sulphur, then heating the mixture to one hundred and fifteen degrees celsius. Often called ‘ebonite’, vulcanite was the most mass-produced rival to actual jet. Its ability to be moulded and not carved, along with a relatively low cost to manufacture made vulcanite a material that was accessible to middle and lower classes of the 19th century, especially at a time when actual jet was the height of fashion.}

A striking Victorian hair pin which could also be worn in a hat. The design is based on a flower with radiating petals in Vauxhall glass. It was made circa 1880 when it was fashionable to wear black jewellery in sympathy with the Queen, Victoria, who was in mourning for Prince Albert.}

An unusual Georgian ring with an inscription on the inside "John Dunn ob (died) March 5.18.14 Ae 55". It has been set with black Vauxhall glass on the top and around the shank. Vauxhall glassworks was a plate glass factory off what is now the Albert Embankment in the Vauxhall area of Lambeth, London. There is hair inside the glazed section.}

A good quality 18ct gold and black enamel late Victorian mourning ring set with two diamonds and a natural split pearl. It is engraved inside the shank "RHCJ 18.6.01".}

An early 18ct gold Georgian mourning ring that was made in 1727. It is amazing to think that the following events happened in that year. In February Spain besieged Gibraltar, in order to recapture the territory. Also Johann Sebastian Bach's solo cantata, Ich habe genug, BWV 82, premiered in Leipzig. In may The Royal Bank of Scotland was founded by Royal Charter in Edinburgh, and in June George, Prince of Wales, became King George II of Great Britain, on the death of his father. So this little ring was made too to commemorate a life. The top emerald cut crystal contains flakes of green colour. It was most likely a bright emerald green when it was first made, to imitate an emerald which was so rare in those days. It has the original foil inside. A rare survival of that age.}

A rare early 18ct gold ring that was made circa 1680-1750. It is composed of a crystal heart with three rose diamonds above. It would most likely have been a mourning ring as there is a complicated monogram in gold thread under the crystal, and what looks like (under magnification) strands of hair beneath it. It could either represent a marital mourning ring, hence the entwined monogram, or it is a single person who is being remembered.}

An unusual Albert (or watch) chain with fine woven hair terminating in to three heart shaped 9ct rose gold sections. The Victorians had quite a morbid passion for braiding human hair, but pieces are keenly collected today as examples from the period. It was made circa 1860.}

A stunning 18ct gold and carved sardonyx portrait ring of Dante. Dante Alighieri was an Italian poet and moral philosopher best known for the epic poem The Divine Comedy, which comprises sections representing the three tiers of the Christian afterlife: purgatory, heaven and hell. It is a great work of medieval literature and considered the greatest work of literature composed in Italian. It is a philosophical Christian vision of mankind’s eternal fate. Dante is seen as the father of modern Italian, and his works have flourished since before his 1321 death. For any fan of Dante this is a special ring to wear.}

A pair of top quality pique earrings, made circa 1880. When Prince Albert died in 1861 Queen Victoria plunged in to mourning taking most of the country with her. It became the fashion to wear all things black, so jet and tortoiseshell were carved in to many forms. At first they were plain then decoration crept in. Tortoiseshell was inlaid with gold and silver intricate designs such as these earrings. Today they are very collectable as reproductions cannot be made.}

An impressive chain which can go around the neck twice or be worn long. It was made in the late Victorian period circa 1890. Vulcanite is a hard, readily cut and polished rubber, obtained by vulcanizing rubber with a large amount of sulphur. It became widely used in the later Victorian period in the manufacture of mourning jewellery.}

A decorative 15ct gold brooch which was made in 1847. It is set with natural split pearls and one small diamond. On the reverse is a locket section and an inscription to the memory of Thomas Dawson.}

A good pair of Georgian cut steel buckles which have a left and a right setting in their original case.}

This is quite a rare ring as the two sides open to reveal plaited hair around the inner ring. It is finely engraved on the outside. I would recommend it for a collector of mourning jewellery as it is in mint condition.}

What a beautiful colour this bracelet is. It is a subtle wine red with a purply flash and looks fabulous at night. It was made circa 1820. It is backed in base metal with metal hollow rods on either side to take the elastic. The glass is hand cut faceted pieces which are unevenly cut which makes it all the more charming.}

A pretty Georgian flat cut garnet cross which has a nice repoussé detail round the central garnet. The garnets are foil backed for translucency. It was made circa 1800.}

This is strictly a memorial brooch/pendant. The centre would have contained a lock of hair. It is gold set with amethysts. Normally I come across garnet set similar pieces. This one is more unusual. Circa 1810, with typical repoussé gold work.}