Victorian Mourning Ring with Braided Hair & Pearls In Gold, London c. 1890

n past centuries, death was still omnipresent: life expectancy was low and the confrontation with death was as present as it was inevitable. In this context, jewellery had a deep symbolic meaning. Its special role in the areas of death, mourning and remembrance can be traced back to the earliest times. A multitude of rules and behavioral norms were intended to alleviate the grief of the bereaved and satisfy society's ideas of decency. Depending on the degree of kinship, the times of mourning were meticulously defined, during which special clothing had to be worn. The mourning attire also included specially made jewellery, the forms and symbolic content of which changed over the centuries. In the last third of the 19th century, for example, mourning jewelry was closely oriented to other jewelry fashions and interpreted them in dark materials, as the Victorian lady was also supposed to be fashionably adorned during the mourning period. English mourning jewelry is one of the most touching treasures from the past - such as this particularly well-preserved ring from the Victorian era. Forged from high-carat gold, the ring is designed as a simple band. The ring shoulders show fine golden lines against a black enameled background, which rhythmically structure the ring. The round ring face has a glazed human hair inlay in its center, which is surrounded by a wreath of natural pearls. Pearls are often found on mourning jewelry as they symbolize shed tears. According to the hallmark on the rail, the ring was created in the goldsmiths of Saunders and Shepherd (see "Find out more") in London, and it also came to us from the British capital.

Estimate:$1,338.2

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