Mourning jewelry and one what is it?

[greenacres]

I bought these brooches years ago. I'm not sure whether all are considered mourning brooches. I tried to get the backs and din't do such a hot job. The last one is black jet and I really have no clue whether you wore it in your hair or what. It';s in really bad shape. Mostly all are signed. I need to get some better shots.

[greenacres]

More photos

[bigwull]

All the pieces with the clasp pins on them are brooches...to be worn on the lapel or on your chest,.or at your throat...in a cravat type scarf......they look like mourning pieces...

[KC]

From the looks of several pieces...they are too shiny and modern to be older or "Victorian" mourning jewelry.  I don't know how else to explain it.  

Most "mourning jewelry" is made out of hair or the semiprecious stone, jet  (where the saying "jet black" came from).  There were other stones used...however they incorporated the human hair into the jewelry to go along with it whether it be a braid, locket of hair, hair weaved into intricate flowers, watch bands, rings, bracelets, etc....

If you could get better closeups of clasps...you can tell the older ones by style.

As for the last piece, it could have been worn in the hair.  They also made them in this fashion and they were sewn onto sweaters/capes/shawls.  This simply could have been removed from one.  This one does look typical of the time period.

Does the one in the top left picture (first pic) have dark human hair in the middle? like this one?  Can't tell from your picture.

[greenacres]

No, I think it's jet glass and is signed LC or HC.

[greenacres]

Beautiful brooch by the way.

[greenacres]

My eyesight so bad I think it could be a "W", lol Have to pull out the magnifier!

[greenacres]

It might be "Whitby".

[wendy177]

If your piece says Whitby it is Jet and not "French jet" (black Glass) but the real deal Jet (black fossilized coal or wood )  Some jet is polished and some has an matte appearance.  Not all mourning jewelry contained hair, and not all Hairwork Jewelry was mourning jewelry, much of it was lovers exchanging locks of hair that was turned into hairwork jewelry.

[KC]

Agree Wendy177.  There is great misconception that all mourning jewelry contained hair.

Thanks for distinguishing the difference in Jets....I failed to do so!  For those that want to know more about Victorian black jewelry this article is fairly accurate and simple to read/understand
Identifying Victorian Black Jewelry
http://antiques.about.com/od/victorianandedwardian/ss/BlackJewelry101710_3.htm

I just couldn't tell from the photo on that one what the middle area was made of.

I used to get weirded out on some of the hair items....but the older I get the more I understand how people wanted to keep a connection with a loved one.  I know we have kept locks of hair of our kids...first haircuts, etc.  

[greenacres]

KC, thanks for the site. I know what you mean about the hair. Your own child is one thing, but someone elses that you don't know is another. But, I have matured, lol.

[wendy177]

Here are a pair of antique Real jet earrings I have c late 1800s

[greenacres]

Don't think I'm slow, but are these "French Jet" is that the difference. When you were saying "Jet" and "French Jet". Whitby is plain "Jet" or just black glass.

[KC]

This article might clarify it for you on the difference between the two
French Jet (polished glass)  Jet (stone)
http://theloveofvintage.wordpress.com/2012/02/02/jetlesson/

[wendy177]

Good article KC!! Greenacres my earrings are jet - fossilized wood,it is formed by the remains of wood that has been immersed in water for millions of years, then compacted and fossilized. Whitby jet is also fossilized wood.                French jet is black glass.