Arrête! C'est ici l'empire de la Mort.

Dedicated to death and mourning practices throughout the ages. If images of death offend or trigger then this blog is not for you. Fairly warned be thee, say's I.

[forhimwholingershere]

Beautiful Victorian mourning locket containing two panels of hair, one woven and one loose behind a panel.

Black enamelling to the front decorated with ‘In Memory Of’ scroll and inverted torch design. The inverted torch was symbolic of a life extinguished. The locket has the initials VPM engraved on the back. Unsure what this is made of, I suspect pinchbeck.

From my personal collection.

[forhimwholingershere]

Croatian post mortem carte de visite photo of a young child, most likely under two years of age. Dated somewhere in the late 1800's. The child has been laid out as if sleeping, hands clasped in lap with a small bouquet of flowers next to them. From my personal collection.

[forhimwholingershere]

Funeral cards or 'in memoriam' cards were sent to inform people of a death. Usually white bordered in black or black and silver, these examples include a bible/religious quote. I like these because they have a name attached which means you could feasibly go and visit the persons grave should you wish. I will definitely be adding more of these to my collection. From my personal collection.

[bonedahlia]

Details of a Victorian hair wreathe. Each strand intricately woven by hand.

[forhimwholingershere]

Stunning. I really want to add a piece of hair wall art to my collection. Hoping that maybe the birthday fairy will help me out.

[forhimwholingershere]

The Victorians would use Lachrymatory bottles to collect tears during mourning. It is said that once the tears had evaporated it signalled that mourning was at an end. I don't know how true that it, as the Victorians had well set out rules for mourning that could last years, maybe it refers to the very deepest part of mourning? More research must be done I think! This bottle dates somewhere between 1850 and 1889, it is unfortunately missing it's stopper and a lot of the gilding has worn away but I do so love the shape. The glass itself is in very good condition. From my personal collection.

[forhimwholingershere]

The latest addition to my collection is very special, not only is it the oldest piece I have at 192 years old, it's also the first inscribed piece. Which means we know who the brooch memorialises. The inscription reads 'Mrs Ann Gevern, Obt 12 sep, 1823 at 63.' The hair in the front is a silvery iron grey colour (it's showing blondish in the photos, but it is grey) set behind a rock crystal panel and is surrounded by seed pearls all set into a gold mount. Measuring 1.8cm wide by 1.3cm high it is a tiny little thing. From my personal collection. Close up photo of inscription taken from original eBay listing. Seller regal68 who has many lovely mourning pieces in their shop.

[the-art-of-mourning]

From the MET exhibit Death Becomes Her: A Century of Mourning Attire.

Source

[forhimwholingershere]

I store my post mortem cabinet cards and carte de visites in this beautiful album from 1882. It’s called the White flower album and is bound in black leather. It’s wonderfully funereal and in marvellous condition for its age.

[forhimwholingershere]

Late 1800's rolled gold mourning brooch with hair work panel. The hair is styled in a Prince of Wales curl and flower design, adorned with gold coloured wire and faux pearls (either bits of shell or glass, I'm unsure) to represent tears. Hair work jewellery was immensely popular in victorian times and was quite the cottage industry. A lot of it was given as sentimental or keepsake items, or in some cases was actually made of horse hair. The presence of black enamelling and wording such as 'In Memory Of' etc is a good indicator of actual mourning items. From my personal collection.

[forhimwholingershere]

"Thou hast gone hence beloved, thou hast sped starlike and swift into a kindred sphere and with thee it is well, yet hope hath fled and life grows cold for him who lingers here." Unknown Author. Seen on gravestone Manchester Road Cemetery, Warrington

[forhimwholingershere]

Victorian post mortem cabinet card, c1890. Image is of a young girl, can't be more than 2 or 3 years old, posed as if sleeping in her crib. Hauntingly beautiful image. Taken by a Mr R. Henderson of Workington, England. From my personal collection.