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- Description:
- Such mourning pieces are popular with the well to do in the eighteenth and early nineteenth century.Most often the scenes were painted on ivory but some card.These scenes are fairly standard; they include symbols associated with sorrow (willows) or flowers associated with remembrance (forget me nots) or everlasting life (yew).Some artists dissolved some of the hair of the deceased and used it in painting the memorial scene.
- Date Issued:
- 1788-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Wayne State University. Libraries and The Henry Ford
- Collection:
- Digital Dress Collection
- Description:
- This stick pin was likely used by a man because of the dark, rather heavy piece of lapis lazuli set into it.These pieces were used by gentlemen primarily to catch and keep the tails of the teck scarves, cravats, etc. together.This is quite plain and could date from a wide range of dates but most likely is from the late nineteenth century to early twentieth century, when these are most popular.
- Date Issued:
- [1905 TO 1925]
- Data Provider:
- Wayne State University. Libraries and The Henry Ford
- Collection:
- Digital Dress Collection
- Description:
- Between 1840 and 1860 hair jewelry was at the peak of production continuing on with watch chains up until the end of the nineteenth century.Hair jewelry or sentimental jewelry was valued by people not only for the intricate detail of the weave, but also because it included hair of a loved one dead or alive.This particular piece is in fine condition; however, many pieces of hair jewelry, given its delicate nature, do not survive over the course of time.
- Date Issued:
- [1835 TO 1885]
- Data Provider:
- Wayne State University. Libraries and The Henry Ford
- Collection:
- Digital Dress Collection
- Description:
- Fobs are charms that dangle from the end of a gentleman's watch chain and are generally visible outside his waistcoat.Many are just decorative while others, such as this, are useful as seals, mechanical pencils, lockets, etc. The latin on this fob roughtly translates into fine follower or helpful worker, but its exact translation is unknown.It seems plausible that this was a gift to a worker or colleague for work well done.
- Date Issued:
- [1875 TO 1910]
- Data Provider:
- Wayne State University. Libraries and The Henry Ford
- Collection:
- Digital Dress Collection
- Description:
- This style can be referred to as bowknot jewelry, and was popular from 1850-1870.The three small jump rings at the bottom of each piece may have been used to suspend small ball drops.
- Date Issued:
- [1860 TO 1875]
- Data Provider:
- Wayne State University. Libraries and The Henry Ford
- Collection:
- Digital Dress Collection
- Description:
- The earrings are likely to be gold as it would be unwise to chase plated metal so deeply.These do appear to be chased.Chasing is the process which literally removes metal in order to create decoration as opposed to engraving in which metal is pushed aside as the engraving tool works on the surface.These are somewhat difficult to date and it is unclear if they are American; however, a date of circa 1880 places the pair with other engraved/chased examples popular at this time as seen in New York wholesalers' catalogs from the period.
- Date Issued:
- [1875 TO 1885]
- Data Provider:
- Wayne State University. Libraries and The Henry Ford
- Collection:
- Digital Dress Collection
- Description:
- Cameos were generally cut from stone until the nineteenth century when shell cameos were found to be lovely and affordable.Many were cut en cameo with images of the ancients, although medieval images were also popular.This one is interesting in that it may allude to the rescue of a sailor, as the angel holds an anchor while pointing in a direction of a flailing man.Perhaps this commemorates a sea rescue.
- Date Issued:
- [1855 TO 1865]
- Data Provider:
- Wayne State University. Libraries and The Henry Ford
- Collection:
- Digital Dress Collection
- Description:
- This ring was made to mourn Stephen Van Rensselaer II, born in 1742 and died 1769.He was born into a great patroon family headed by Stephen Van Rensselaer and wife Elizabeth Goresbeck.Stephen II became lord of the manor house Rensselaerswyk at age five, when his own father passed away.Stephen II married Catherine Livingston, from another august New York colonial family--her mother was a Ten Broeck and her father Philip Livingston.Husband Stephen II died suddenly in 1769 at age 27 as one of the wealthiest men of the Albany area.By that time he had fathered three sons:eldest son Stephen Van Rensselaer III (1764-1839) rose to great heights.Stephen III founded Rensselaer School in 1824 (later Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) and was a congressman, business man, and kind benefactor and landlord.This ring is an exceptional piece in the collection as it was made in memory of an early and important American colonist.It is interesting to note that the first Van Rensselaer patroon, Kilaen Van Rensselaer, began trade as a silversmith near Albany.Often money was left in a will so that mourning pieces could be made.Other researchers have attributed this ring to Jacob Boelen (1733-1786) with mark IB and this is a plausible attribution; Boelen was a silversmith who worked outside of Albany.
- Date Issued:
- 1769-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Wayne State University. Libraries and The Henry Ford
- Collection:
- Digital Dress Collection
- Description:
- Sentimental brooch which incorporates a lock of hair of a loved one.The inclusion of black enamel around the hair indicates that the loved one was likely deceased."MBL" may be the initials of the deceased.Half mourning called for jewelry that was not flashy or showed too much shiny gold metal, so many pieces used in half mourning include dark stones or enamel.This was likely made simultaneously with the plaited hair jewelry popular in the 1850s and 1860s.
- Date Issued:
- [1850 TO 1860]
- Data Provider:
- Wayne State University. Libraries and The Henry Ford
- Collection:
- Digital Dress Collection
- Description:
- This ring might be considered an interesting transitional mourning ring.Earlier mourning rings were generally set with sepia scenes under glass and set into the gold band.Later mourning and memorial rings, from the 1830s on, often included locks of hair and onyx, pearls or enamel; some were plaited entirely of human hair.This ring is plain and simple, not unlike other decorative accessories of this classical revival period, and does not include the earlier sepia scenes but is more akin to rings of later in the century.
- Date Issued:
- 1807-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Wayne State University. Libraries and The Henry Ford
- Collection:
- Digital Dress Collection