Mourning jewelry in Western European (and later, American) culture dates back to the 16th century but gained huge popularity in the mid-19th century when Queen Victoria mourned the death of her beloved Prince Albert. A few years later, America was embroiled in a civil war with massive loss of life, also creating a big demand for items of mourning.

In this talk, Sarah Nehama, a metalsmith and antique jewelry collector, will give an overview history of mourning jewelry, beginning with the source of its early iconography in memento mori jewelry and objects. She will cover style, iconography, and materials from the mid-17th century up to the early 20th century, showing mourning jewelry’s place in connection to political and public figures, as well as intimate friends and family. Its relation to sentimental jewelry through this time period, particularly sentimental pieces incorporating hair, portraits, or photos, will also be covered. Sarah will have many visual examples to share, and she will highlight jewelry with specific New England connections.