If you see a woman weeping at a tomb or plinth, this is considered to be the mourning ‘widow’ / ‘grieving woman’ / representation of the Madonna. The woman was the focal point of the family and considered to uphold the virtue of the house, hence why the focus of mourning has been centred on… Continue reading Symbolism, The Woman
A Sentimental Brooch For a Mother and Daughter, c.1860
Dedication: To D.H.R from her affectionate mother. Often a piece comes along that you feel in your heart is special and was kept untouched and loved for a reason. This brooch is one of those, not only for its pristine condition, but for the glorious sentiment between a mother and daughter. This piece specifically states… Continue reading A Sentimental Brooch For a Mother and Daughter, c.1860
JFK Memorial, An Example of Memorial Ephemera in the 20th Century
With mourning being a constant earner of capital, events draw quite a large amount of memorial paraphernalia, as seen in the previous examples. Never outdone, the US has mass produced memorial pieces dating as far back as Washington. Lincoln items are notable in that he died not long after the Civil War when the American… Continue reading JFK Memorial, An Example of Memorial Ephemera in the 20th Century
Property of a Lady: 18th Century Costume, Mourning and Art in a Neoclassical Miniature
This piece is pained on ivory, measured 1.75 (4.3cm) by 2.25 (6.8cm) inches (loop excluded), set in rose gold. We have a young woman looking up to the cherub carrying the scroll with the writing ‘TO BLISS’, behind her is the willow (gief) and to the distance are the cypress trees pointing their way towards the heavens. In front, we have urn resting on a plinth with ‘SACRED TO THE BEST OF FRIENDS’. All this is painted in hushed sepia tones, except for the cherub and female. On the reverse, we have tightly woven hairwork.