Mourning jewelry became popular during the 18th century, when sentiment, both sorrowful and romantic, began to be expressed in a more allegorical style. In some pieces, the hair of the deceased was crushed into a powder and mixed with stabilizers in order to create a pigment with which to make a miniature painting for jewelry. In some cases, watercolors were used alongside hair clippings to create the images under glass on these pieces.
On a recent trip to London, we saw a near-identical brooch to ours at the Victoria & Albert museum which dated the piece Circa 1775-1800. A woman in mourning sits near a plinth holding an urn, a weeping willow tree and angel in the background. The angel holds a banner reading "To Bliss", meaning going on to Heaven. The plinth reads, "Not lost but gone before". A wonderful, museum-quality mourning locket that will be the star of your collection!
Details (approximate)
Dimensions: 1 3/8"
Weight: 6.2 grams
Materials: Gold, Watercolor & Hair on Wafer
Metal: 9K yellow gold
Marks: None; Inscribed on front: TO BLISS/NOT LOST BUT GONE BEFORE
Condition: Excellent Antique condition commensurate with age and wear