20/05/2024
MORBID MONDAYS #1
Memento mori jewellery from the Victorian era served as reminders of mortality, embodying the Latin phrase which means "remember that you must die."
These pieces often incorporated symbols like skulls, skeletons, and hourglasses to reflect on the transient nature of life. Popularised during a time of high mortality rates and exemplified by Queen Victoria’s extended mourning for Prince Albert, they were crafted from materials such as gold, enamel, and woven hair, and included rings, brooches, lockets, and pendants inscribed with commemorative messages.
They held deep sentimental value, reflecting both the era's aesthetic tastes and its intimate engagement with themes of death and remembrance.