Determining whether a piece of Victorian hair jewelry was intended as a sentimental love token or a mourning tribute can sometimes be tricky. In the Victorian era, locks of hair and elaborate hairwork pieces were often given and treasured as keepsakes in the same spirit that we might have carried a photo of a loved one in our wallet ten years ago, or now use as the image on our smart phone lock screen today. This exquisitely rendered bird in flight with garnet eyes and a turquoise studded forget me not in its beak also holds a hair locket on the back side. A bird holding greenery in its beak naturally evokes the dove of peace, but this motif was also employed as a symbol of homecoming (in a time of travel by sea) as the sighting of one of birds meant that land was near. Formerly a brooch, we have removed the pin and added a 24" sterling silver chain.
thedetails
- Materials
Sterling silver, garnet cabochons, turquoise cabochons
- Age
c. 1850
- Condition
Excellent - converted from a brooch into a necklace, head of the flower spins but is securely attached
- Size
1.5" x 2" at the widest point, 24" chain
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Aboutthe
VictorianEra
1837 — 1901
The Victorians were avid consumers and novelty-seekers, especially when it came to fashion, and numerous fads came and went throughout the 19th century. In jewelry, whatever fashion choices Queen V. made reverberated throughout the kingdom. The Romantic period reflected the queen’s legendary love for her husband, Albert.
Jewelry from this period featured joyful designs like flowers, hearts, and birds, all which often had symbolic meaning. The queen’s betrothal ring was made in the shape of a snake, which stood for love, fidelity, and eternity. The exuberant tone shifted after Prince Albert passed away in 1861, marking the beginning of the Grand Period. Black jewelry became de rigeur as the Queen and her subjects entered “mourning,” which at the time represented not just an emotional state, as we conceive of it today, but a specific manner of conduct and dress. She wore the color black for the remainder of her life, and we see lots of black onyx, enamel, jet, and gutta percha in the jewelry from this time. Finally, during the late Victorian period, which transitioned along with a rapidly changing world into the “Aesthetic Movement”, there was a return to organic and whimsical motifs: serpents, crescent moons, animals, and Japonaisserie designed for the more liberated “Gibson Girl”. During the second half of the 19th century, America entered the global jewelry market, with Tiffany and Co. leading the way. Lapidaries continued to perfect their techniques, and the old European cut emerged toward the end of the Victorian period. The discovery of rich diamond mines in South Africa made the colorless stones more accessible than ever before.
