ANTIQUE VICTORIAN 10k GOLD HAIR ART MOURNING BROOCH WITH SEED PEARLS

There is something so magical to me about vintage and antique cameos: the way the portraits are rendered in such incredible detail seems to tell a person's mystery. This cameo is carved from genuine shell with such impressive precision, and it's set in solid 18k gold. It is both a pendant, and a brooch; the pin back is not visible when it's worn as a pendant, and I love the way the bail dangles down and disappears when it's worn as brooch, making it truly two pieces in one. It was likely made in the 1930s, but it's also possible that the cameo itself was made even earlier, and the brooch fastener was later added around the 1930s or 1940s. This cameo depicts a Spanish woman, wearing a mantilla comb...

This stunning vintage pearl and crystal parure includes a statement necklace and stud earrings. It was made by Jolie Gabor, mother of legendary actress and socialite Zsa Zsa Gabor, w...

This gorgeous crystal waterfall necklace was crafted from fine Czech crystal in 1950s. The crystals are beautifully faceted, in orange and a milky ivory hue, on a silver chain— the c...

This piece is so special and so rare: it dates to the Victorian era, more specifically the 1860s, and was likely made in Britain. It is crafted from vulcanite and features a teardrop shape with a high relief bunch of grapes in intricate detail, surrounded by a border of carved beads, strung on a fine black ribbon, to be worn as choker. (I love it strung on the Victorian Jet Choker pictured, which is also available in my shop.) The vulcanite has this truly stunning, relatively matte finish, with a rich warm glow— it's just so unique and unlike any other material. What is vulcanite? It is made by combining the sap of the Euphorbia or Ficus trees from Malaysia, with sulphur. It was originally invented in 1843 by Thomas Hancock. His timing just happened to be spot-on: black had long been considered essential to mourning jewelry and mourning dress, but thanks to Queen Victoria's extended 40 years of grieving (for her husband, Prince Albert), from about 1860-1890, black was considered a highly fashionable color, and began to be worn outside mourning dress. During this period, vulcanite became a very fashionable material for jewelry, and it loaned objects that gothic, romantic, dramatic black cast that Victorians just loved. Victorian mourning jewelry is rife with grape motifs; for one, grapes were a symbols of Christ (as wine is the blood of Christ). On Victorian grave markers, a cluster of grapes typically means that the deceased was of mature years. Victorians are well known for using flowers and botanicals as a means of communication. Wild grapes, according to The Language of Flowers published in 1913, are symbols of Charity, a favorite Victorian theme. NOTE: The Victorian Hair Mourning...

Antique Victorian 14K Gold Black Onyx Pendant Necklace Approximate Dimensions: 70 cm (Unclasped Length) 7.5 cm (Pendant Length) 3.5 cm ...

Um, wow! This is one amazing piece of jewelry!! I'm totally in love with it! Crafted in 18K Yellow Gold, and topped in Silver, this gorgeous piece of Mourning jewelry features a beautiful Jet Cameo...

In Victorian times, the pearls of a mourning piece were used to symbolize the tears of those left behind. This antique 14k gold mourning piece features a carved black and white agat...

14k yellow gold and one piece onyx mourning locket pendant with 10 rosette cut diamonds on the back. Measures 2 inches x 1 5/8 inches without a loupe. In...