Circa 1788 English Gold Mourning Brooch | ||
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Posted 9 years ago
vintagelamp
(1101 items)
Circa 1788. 1ins by 1.25ins high. Gold mourning brooch with sepia on ivory colored panel depicting a woman seated beside a tomb with the initials W.M.C and near the woman are the initials J.W. There are pieces of hair glued within the image.
Inscribed to the reverse is 'JW ob 12 Nov 1780 A 38 Yrs', 'CWW ob 22 May 1781 A 5 Yrs', MW ob 26 July 1781 A 7 Yrs', JL ob 13 Feb 1788 A 39'.
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Beautiful!
Efesgirl, Thank you!
It is stunning. What does it say on the back? Are those death dates?What is that back substance that looks like seaweed on the front?
Celiene, Thank you! I am not sure what the seaweed substance is. Perhaps there were pieces of hair glued to it. Yes, those are the deaths on the back and the last survivor is listed in a little different script.
Celiene, It looks like the father and two children ages 7 and 5 died around the same time. Perhaps that is the wife's name last after another marriage (?)
Inscribed to the reverse is 'JW ob 12 Nov 1780 A 38 Yrs', 'CWW ob 22 May 1781 A 5 Yrs', MW ob 26 July 1781 A 7 Yrs', JL ob 13 Feb 1788 A 39'.
It is some kind of liquid, or was at one point. I don't think hair melts. I'd take it to an expert to see if it can be cleaned, or kept form becoming more damaged. It's so pretty and sad! The two boys must have died of something contagious, being so close. There is a tombstone near me that has like 8 children all dying in the Spanish Flu epidemic within weeks of each other.
I believe that it is supposed to be a branch of some sort.
VERY BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!
jscotto, Thank you!
Wow! That's a beautiful mourning early piece!
You're right, it is sepia miniature, with tiny pieces of beloved deceased hair.
The o or ob is for Latin word obiit (deceased)
A is for Latin aetatis (at the age of, aged)
I collected mourning pieces for years, always preferred those with inscriptions as they are poignant temoignages of children mortality ...
Can't identify the branch, but there is always a strong symbolism in mourning or love pieces as yours!
It doesn't seem to be damaged, but the miniature beeing paint on an ivory wafer, keep it in temperate ambiance, avoiding sun, moist and heat (lamps in display cabinet!).
kyra, Thank you so much for all of the information! I believed the branch was some sort of symbolism and not some type of damage, so your comment has certainly reassured me. I really do appreciate all of your informative comments. I had previously commented on your moth/butterfly enameled pin. It is funny that I ended up with the same pin. I had forgotten that you had one of them!
http://artofmourning.com/2006/01/17/symbolism-meaning-objects/
Look all, there are plant, animals symbols too
For the moth, I nearly forgot even myself, lol, too much stuff ;-D
What a beautiful piece of history and done so tastefully .
kyra, Wow! What a great Link!!! Thank you!!!
Manikin, Thank you so much!
What a beautiful piece of history, thanks for sharing!
themuse, Thank you so much!
This is why Anti-Vaxxers drive me crazy! 1780-81, Smallpox epidemic in England,. Anthrax, and Dysentery.
https://books.google.com/books?id=KC0AAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA368&lpg=PA368&dq=epidemic+england+1780-81&source=bl&ots=bD7ZEylemU&sig=JIRQ6e39BzdY9ieFnAXOV1CIS2Y&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjB4LbS16LKAhUK-GMKHWPZAsUQ6AEIKDAC#v=onepage&q=epidemic%20england%201780-81&f=false
I, too, am drawn to the mourning tributes many children who died in one family of NOW curable and preventable diseases. (My focus is Cemeteries, though. And sadly, there are not many really old cemeteries in California!)
Hmm - there was also an Influenza epidemic in May 1781 (London, Suffolk, Devonshire, Surrey).
This is one reason women had many, many children. Not only to work farms etc., but to hopefully ensure the survival of one or two to adulthood. SAD! (And fascinating! To me, anyway!)
Celiene, Wow! Thank you for this information. Now it makes more sense. A member of my family has the initials "JW." I actually bought this for her. I wish that I knew the last name... I research like you do so this is VERY interesting to me also.
I have ancestors in VA, SC, GA and FL going back several generations. I remember seeing some of the cemeteries where, virtually, entire families died at the same time. I have family members in San Bernardino/ Lake Arrowhead but I have never been to CA.
Beautiful!!
SEAN68, Thank you!
Mudwoman, Thank you for your kind comment. I am hooked on morning jewelry now. I just got the mourning ring that I posted.
Mudwoman! I'm a huge fan of Nell, the green Lady!
Here is the post about her:
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/146633-the-green-lady-cornelia-nell-flint?in=collection-3923
Mudwoman, The "Green Woman" is my favorite of all!
kyra, Thank you for linking Mudwoman to Nell! Hope that you are doing well!
Hey Vintagelamp! I was so happy to see another admirer for Nell :-)
Of course have to love her again!
More posts please, you are too rare here ;-D
kyra, Special surprise for Valentines Day coming...
Thanks for loving Nell again. She is starting to feel like an adopted family member. I hope that you have heard of the person I will add next. She is REALLY an original!!!
brunswick, Same to you, Thomas!
Wonderful ????
Sorry, tryed to make a flower not questionmark.
Elisabethan...Looks like flowers to me :)