Posted 12 years ago
miKKoChris…
(52 items)
I found this old mourning brooch in a flea market. I have no provenance for it, and I do not know its exact age. I am very ignorant of jewelry, so my opinion is offered tentatively! I think that a reasonable date range for its issue might be circa 1860's - very late nineteenth century. The subject of the photo could be a veteran of the Civil War - I do not know. He is a dignified, handsome gentleman, despite the rather 'assertive' whiskers - which were fashionable in those days. Center oval pivots - photo on face, cloth under glass on reverse. No hair or other memorial artifact on the cloth. I think it likely that this originally contained a lock of hair. I have seen a number of Civil War mourning brooches that closely resemble this. Metal is pinchback. Can anyone confirm the date range for this article? Thank you!
Pictured with this brooch is a musket ball, a Civil War relic. My elder brother gave it to me when I asked him why so many Civil War wounds resulted in amputations. It is made of lead....God bless our soldiers! miKKo
Thank you kindly, Bellin68 and Manikin!!! miKKo
I think the 'cloth' may well be woven hair. Rather than a simple "lock of hair" it has been woven into that backing 'cloth'.
It's a great collection!
Thanks for sharing it, Mikko!
I too recon the cloth is woven hair .
This is called mourning jewelry or jewellery
http://www.hairworksociety.org/
http://artofmourning.com/
http://thingsgoneby.com/museum/mourningmuseum.html
Thank you kindly, vetraio50 and ozmarty, for your generous appreciation, for your (always) educated opinions, and for the sources!!! Wonderful! When I presented this item for purchase, I expressed my opinion that the cloth might have been a foundation for hair weaving, but the Seller examined cloth with a jeweler's lens and stated that it was not. I will now revisit this issue with my own glass, and I am downright thrilled with these links to sources on the many manifestations of mourning! Mourning jewelry could get to be a bad habit.
About the 'shot': my 'Civil War brother' just phoned: it should be a musket ball. He and a companion found it in a field near a 'running battle' - with a Civil War officer's sword, some remnants of a cannon ball, and another handful of these musket balls. About 8 inches underground. Tomorrow, we'll discuss over lunch the SAS helmet Petey has and the SOG knife Bootson has.... Thanks again!!! miKKo
I like mournig jewelery I tried to get my wife to collect it , like a few other things trying to get her addicted to collecting like me . Alas no .. she says one collector in the house is enough .Well .... I know she means One collector in the house is one too many!!
Thank you, thank you very much, ozmarty, kerry10456, inky, mrmajestic1, AR8Jason!!! miKKo
Thank you kindly, Deanteaks!!!
Thank you kindly, walksoftly, bobbee!!!
Thank you kindly, musikchoo and bratjdd!!!
I like the idea of mourning jewelry, I wonder if anyone does anything like that today? I suppose some would think it "odd".
Lead shot yes, I shot a lot of those as a kid. I bought my first "pistol" at 15 (that was a different time and place), an Italian reproduction of a Colt model 1860 Army.
If you post the dimension someone will tell you what weapon it was for.
Thank you, kindly, scottvez!!!
Thank you kindly, lisa!!!
Happy 4th MiKKo, thought this needed to be back up top for the holiday. Wish you a safe and happy holiday :-)
Hi, kerry10456! Many thanks to you for your kind appreciation of these items, and for your very thoughtful and splendid greetings for a Happy Fourth of July! I wish you a splendid observance of the Fourth, sir! miKKo
Thank you kindly, gentlyused4you!!! miKKo
Thank you kindly, Deanteaks!!! : )
Hi miKKo! Well I am sorry I missed this when you first posted. I think I am up to date and then one sneaks through.
I too believe your cloth is hair. It was my first thought looking at your photos before reading your post.
On a different note, thank you again for the information download. I am processing it all but not going as fast as I would like. Please know how much I appreciate all your efforts!
Thank you kindly, AR8Jason and Amber Rose!!! : )
Thanks much for your kind comment, AmberRose. It was my pleasure! Hope you are not out and about too much in this heat. Take care, and happy hunting! miKKo
I'm sure too it is hair. The same hair patron you can see on my bracelet placed on this site, the middle photo. Link:
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/2421-antique-scottish-pebble-agate-gold-brace
Thank you kindly, Agram.m!!! I value your expertise and really appreciate your taking the time to consider my brooch! Your mourning bracelet is most beautiful! : )
Hi, Bellin. No, actually I haven't. Perhaps I'll wear it one day soon : )
Very Nice. Great find
Hi, Kathycat. Thanks so much! : )
Very nice, and I also am sure the back is woven hair. I have seen many of these types of brooches, and yours is in wonderful condition. Thank you for putting a picture of it up. :)
Thank you very much, Tlynnie1942! : )
Thank you very much, dollybell!! : )