Victorian Mourning Box Including Handmade Hair Mourning Jewelry

Item Details

A Victorian era mourning box. These boxes were made following the passing of a loved one, and often included photographs of the deceased and art made with their hair. This mourning box remembers a couple, whose photographs are mounted to the top of the box. The photographs were taken by Bonney and Wallace, a photography studio located in South Bend, Indiana. Several of the items the figures wear in the photographs are mounted in the box, including the man’s pocket watch and several black beaded appliques from the woman’s dress. Six pieces of mourning jewelry are also included; mourning jewelry was a concept made popular by Queen Victoria after the death of her husband. The jewelry is generally made with finely woven hair of the deceased. Human hair is woven into the six small applique pieces included here. The pieces are mounted to a pale blue suede-like backing and is presented behind glass in an antique shadowbox with a contemporary composite frame face. A hanging wire is attached to the verso.

Condition

- appliques and jewelry have light wear and fraying, consistent with age. Photographs are slightly yellowed and bent. Face of the frame has been glued and reattached.

Dimensions

Item #

16CIN518-094