Images(2)

French Jet Mourning Locket

Date1837 - 1901

Object NameLocket

Mediumglass and metal

ClassificationsJewellery

DimensionsHeight: 3.9cm
Width: 2.9cm
Depth: 0.9cm

LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub

Object numberABDMS082476

Keywords

About MeOval French jet mourning locket featuring an oval black glass front with cushioned edges and an incised floral design with four flowers, which has been decorated with gold (possibly enamel) and clear stones (possibly glass) at the centre of each flower.

On the back of the black glass front is an oval gold metal mount featuring a hinged glass fronted reserve. Presumably this would have originally held either a portrait or perhaps a lock of hair.

There is a small piece of metal at the back which could indicate that there was once a brooch or necklace attachment.

Although France had deposits of jet there was not enough to meet the demands of fashion in the 19th century. The French therefore produced a black glass known as French jet, which was mass produced and very cheep.

The notion of keeping a physical memento of a person, dead or alive, is thousands of years old. Using a lock of hair in a remembrance piece has been popular for many centuries. However, pieces of jewellery containing intricate patterns made from hair began to appear during the 17th century.

The craft of hairwork jewellery really took off in the 19th century as the fashion for sentimental jewellery grew.

Hairwork was more commonly worn as a love gesture but could also be worn for mourning if the hair used was that of the deceased.