Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Mourning locket mystère
Victorian mourning jewelry is what originally got me interested in vintage jewelry. Whenever I find a special piece at the right price, I grab it up. Like this locket I found earlier this summer! The animal symbolism was lost on me so I asked Hayden Peters for some expert advice. Mr. Peters keeps the excellent blog Art of Mourning, where he does thoughtful posts about mourning jewelry, photos, funeralia and other sentimental objects. I also chatted with some other mourning jewelry aficionados and this is what I learned.
The Forget-Me-Not symbolizes remembrance. The dog stands for fidelity and loyalty, always waiting for its owner. The cat is a little bit tricky. One person suggested that cats symbolize resurrection and rebirth in some societies. If that's the case here, then what does it mean that the woman is holding the cat and walking away from the dog? What do you think this scene is all about?
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7 comments:
Art of Mourning is an amazing blog! Thanks for the tip.
Lovely locket as well.
Sarah
http://LUXXORvintage.com
Thank you for the link. We have a large painting of a "sleeping child" that has been in my husband's family since Victorian times and I bet he can help me unravel some of its story. (I doubt the child is sleeping) Your locket: I wonder, because she's holding the cat, could it be for comfort?
I am speechless! That locket is gorgeous. Thanks for pointing out the Art of Mourning blog, I think I'll be reading it for the rest of the day!
i think there is a tarot card somewhere with similar imagery.... and tells some kind of story of solitude. but alas, i can't recall enough of it to provide any good information. mourning jewelry is so very beautiful and haunting.
But she is looking *at* the dog, while holding the cat. So she is loyal to the memory of whoever has died (like the dog) but confident that they will be reborn/resurrected (like the cat). Maybe? Beautiful locket.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comments ladies! I really enjoyed reading your ideas about this little scene!
this is gorgeous! i love it!
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