Happy Wednesday, friends! I’m so happy to welcome back author Heather Moll to Austenesque Reviews today! If you read some of Heather’s books already or if you follow her on Instagram, you may already be aware of her passion and interest in Georgian jewelry. On her two most recent visits to AR, Heather shared some fascinating posts about miniature portraits and acrostic jewelry. Both of which were informative and illustrative of jewelry customs during Jane Austen’s time.
Today Heather shares about a different type of jewelry that readers will see featured in her newest
novel (the stunning and poignant cover we adored last month) – An Affectionate Heart. 💍 We hope you enjoy!
Thank you for welcoming me to Austenesque Reviews! I use jewelry in every full-length novel I write, and An Affectionate Heart is the same. Usually, jewelry is associated with glamor and wealth, or a romantic gift. But what about as mementos of beloved people who are no longer with us?
When you see a piece of mourning jewelry, do you think it’s morbid? Don’t worry, many do! But if you’re shuddering, stick with me because there’s a lot to appreciate even if you would never wear one.
We have a camera on a device that we always carry with us. I can view years’ worth of pictures of all of my family and closest friends.
But can you imagine not being able to remember what your loved one looked like? Not everyone in Georgian England sat for a portrait, not everyone had a family member who could draw, and even the wealthy might have only sat for one portrait in their lifetime. Without an image to remember your loved one, what is another way to keep their memory alive?
The custom of wearing jewelry to commemorate a death has been around for centuries, but was revived in the mid-Georgian era. People would put provisions in their will for the making of mourning jewelry for their nearest and dearest. Memorial rings were the most common–so, of course, I did NOT pick a ring to put in An Affectionate Heart. Darcy has a watch fob and Elizabeth has a brooch.
Common memorial rings were a gold and enamel band with the name, the date of death, and the age at death. This could be on the outside or the inside of the band. Sometimes they were larger with an inscription on the face. In An Affectionate Heart, one of the pieces says, “Not Lost But Gone Before” and the other “In Death Lamented as in Life Beloved”.
In some of the pictures you can see the letters OB before a date and AET before a number. These are Latin abbreviations: ob stands for obitus (death) and aet is short for aetatis or aetas (years or time of life). White enamel often symbolized a lost child or that the deceased was unmarried.
Large pieces like brooches, lockets, or items styled to look like watch fobs had classical imagery such as weeping willows and urns. Some of these designs were chosen from a catalog, and others were custom made with imagery that might have been more personal. A ship might have meant that a sailor lost at sea, a weeping willow symbolized sorrow. Pearl decorations often indicated tears of grief.
So, are we going to talk about the hair? Sentimental hair jewelry really took off with the Victorians, but it was used in the Georgian era. Still, I didn’t use hair as jewelry in An Affectionate Heart. At this time, hair was more often set under glass or put in a locket.
Are you thinking, “Eww, who would keep hair?” Did you save a curl of your kids’ hair from their first hair cut? Do you know someone who saved a lock of their spouse’s hair after they died? I’ll bet a few of you even saved your kid’s first lost baby tooth. Hair is lasting, and it’s a tangible reminder of a loved one. The mourning ring set with hair that we disdain as creepy was probably someone’s treasured only remembrance.
That’s not to say that I would wear a stranger’s mourning jewelry. But I understand why someone else wanted mourning jewelry, and I can even find beauty in it.
In An Affectionate Heart, both Darcy and Elizabeth have a piece of mourning jewelry. Being able to bond over wearing the jewelry was a way to bring Darcy and Elizabeth closer and for each of them keep close the memory of someone who was gone.
I always learn so much when you come to visit, Heather! Thank you for sharing. I was familiar with memorial rings and the placement of hair from a loved one in jewelry, but it is interesting to see there were many other forms of mourning jewelry as well. I look forward to seeing how both Darcy and Elizabeth treasure their mourning jewelry and how it fosters a connection between them. 💕
All the best with your release of An Affectionate Heart!!
~~~
GIVEAWAY TIME!
Heather brings with her today a lovely prize pack to giveaway to 1️⃣ lucky winner! This prize pack includes:
- A signed paperback of An Affectionate Heart
- A paperback of The Blue Castle
- A paperback of Pride and Prejudice
- Excessively Diverted soap from Northanger Soapworks
Commenting on this post and filling out the rafflecopter widget on this blog enters you in a chance to win!
- This giveaway is open to US residents. Thank you, Heather!
- This giveaway ends April 9th!
I read this both as an unpublished story and then the published version – loved it, posted by 5 star review. Highly recommend it.
I’m so pleased you liked it Sheila!
I just read this book and thoroughly enjoyed it! Love Heather Moll’s stuff!
Thank you so much! You brightened my morning.
Thank you so much for welcoming me and An Affectionate Heart Meredith!
I had never heard of mourning jewelry before, what an interesting topic! And An Affectionate Heart sounds like an excellent read!
Isn’t the jewelry unique? I’m happy you found it interesting. Thanks for saying hi!
Good luck to the participants.
This is a much poignant tale.
Thanks a million for reading it!
Heather, I loved your book and have lent it to my Mom to read too. Congratulations on your release.
Thank you so much!! I love hearing that you shared the book with your mom! That makes me smile.
This was really interesting and the pictures were excellent to show us what they looked like. Even in Jane Eyre they mentioned mourning rings when Jane’s relation died and left instructions in his will that mourning rings would be made for the family. I have a similar story but mine isn’t a ring but a mourning quilt. Back in the day the women would take the ribbons off the flowers sent to the funeral and would sew them together and made a quilt for the family. Or they would take the deceased’s clothing and make a quilt. Not a ring… but a memorial. I know, it’s morbid by today’s standards. This post was fascinating. Thanks for sharing.
I have made a mourning quilt for someone from her deceased mom’s scrubs (she was a nurse.) I have heard of several people making clothing for their children from deceased relative’s clothing to memorialize them.
It’s a shame that these memorials have such a morbid connotation today. I don’t think people should have to hide their grief. I love the idea of a quilt that you can wrap yourself up in.
Loved the pix of mourning jewelry, I have to say, it still grosses me out a little. But mom mom passed away about a year ago, and I seriously considered having her thumbprint made into a piece of gold jewelry. The advertising for this service was actually at the funeral home! LOL. In the end I didn’t do it. But I have her drivers’ license, so I guess I can still do it at some point, if I decide to. I understand the desire to keep something unique to one’s loved-one close to them after they are gone from the physical world. Anyway, I read this story in it’s unpublished format, and a LOVED it. I’d love to read it again start to finish, and to give it a place of honor on my JAFF bookshelf. Good luck with sales!!
my mom… not mom mom.
Whether it’s jewelry or a thumbprint, I think that need to have a connection, a memorial, is pretty profound. Thanks for your well wishes!
I can’t wait to read another book from this author. I’ve enjoyed what I read so far. Going to go buy this book
This is lovely to hear! Thanks so much
The Blue Castle was my favorite book for many, many years, until Pride and Prejudice took precedence. Thus, I was so eager to read this book! Your writing was excellent, Heather, and I though the way you interwove P&P with TBC was ingenious. It also led me to reread The Blue Castle. Thank you for marrying my two favorite books from my two favorite authors. The experience reading it was exceptional.
Yay! I’ve been eager to hear thoughts from someone else who read and enjoyed The Blue Castle. Thank you so so much for reading!
I’m not a big fan of mourning jewellery with hair in (although if it was a loved one of my own I might feel differently). I think I would prefer something with an inscription or a picture that meant something to me.
I loved the items Darcy and Elizabeth had in this book. Despite the tears I shed I will definitely be rereading this lovely story more than once! (I’ll just be sure to stick up on tissues first!)
I know this jewelry is not your fave lol. They’re not for everyone. I would at least love for readers to appreciate the significance they would have had to the person who wore it. Just like for Darcy and Elizabeth!
Fascinating info! I learned some things. And I loved this story! The mourning jewelry is a moving and bittersweet detail.
Aren’t they fascinating pieces? And with all the symbolism too. It really hits hard.
I was so glad when I discovered Heather Moll…Loved Nine Ladies and I can only imagine this will be just a wonderful!!
You have no idea how encouraging a comment like this can be! Thank you!
So interesting, Heather! Love how you put so much thought into the mourning jewelry in this fabulous story. Something so small that means so much.
Thank you! They were and are such powerful pieces that it seemed the perfect fit for these two in this story.
Fascinating. I feel like I’m in the minority because mourning jewelry doesn’t bother me at all. It’s a tangible expression of grief, especially in a time when there weren’t many of those available. I also think people were just closer to death as an experience. I think there’s a certain disconnect to it today since mourning things, the physical form, the funeral, etc., are handled by others, professionals, yes, but others nonetheless and the average person is not as “present” to the experience, I suppose? Anyway! Interesting research! Thanks for the interesting topic!
That’s exactly it: a tangible expression of grief. And you’re right that there was a more personal connection to the process of dying and what happens after than we typically have now. There was no one to “undertake” those duties for you, or only beginning to be at this time. I’m glad you liked the topic!
Thanks for the article! I learned a lot about mourning jewelry. I am interested to see how Elizabeth and Darcy discover each other’s mourning pieces.
I’m so glad it piqued your interest!
I just finished this book a couple of hours ago and loved it! I also loved Nine Ladies. I thought the jewellery was a moving and fascinating detail. Looking forward to your next book!
I’m so pleased you liked it Susan! Thank you! And a new book isn’t too far away.
fascinating. I have seen items like this in a museum.
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It just dawned on me that I haven’t seen any pieces in person lol Just in books and online photos.
I really enjoyed it as you posted it online and I am so glad you published it. I have always thought mourning jewelry was so beautiful and poignant. I find it less creepy than the Southern habit of taking photos of the deceased. I prefer to remember them alive. My Grandma had a lot of deceased relative pictures when she passed away and I inherited them. I passed those on to someone else.
Thanks! It’s interesting that you said that because I considered mentioning the Victorian post-mortem photography trend. I hadn’t realised that it was still popular in the South. I think I’d rather remember relatives alive and look at photos of them living life, too.
I love being able to learn more about small things that are included in the story, I can’t wait to read it
I’m so pleased you liked hearing about the little details! I can get hung up on them if I’m not careful!
Your information about mourning jewelry was absolutely fascinating. I still have a shirt hidden away in my closet from my deceased brother–just can’t seem to make myself get rid of it. Keep writing, Heather. You have talent.
As much as we might cringe about the jewelry, I think it we all thought about it, we probably all have a token of some sort of a loved one that we’ve lost. Those tangible connections are valuable. Thanks for your kind words!
Interesting info and pix about mourning jewelry. I learned so much. I loved Nine Ladies! I can’t wait to read this one too.
I’m glad you found it interesting. I hope you love the book!
This is so interesting about the Jewelry for this time period. I love hearing about different historical customs. I always thought of keeping a lock of someone’s hair so romantic, but also what a lovely remembrance of a lost loved one. Thanks so much for sharing and the giveaway. –Leslie
I’m happy you found it interesting. There is something intimate about having a lock of someone’s hair and that translates so well to a wearable memorial like a piece of jewelry.
Somehow I’ve never heard of this kind of jewelry before. Very interesting.
I’m glad to share something new with you!
Love the history of memorial jewelry. Can’t wait to add your book to my TBR hoard!
I’m glad you found it interesting! I hope you love the book. My TBR is towering, too!
I’m extremely behind the times here, and I apologize! I just had to say how much I’m looking forward to reading another Heather Moll book, and this one sounds so good! I’ve loved all of Heather’s books I’ve read. I am not familiar with The Blue Castle, but now I’ve got to read it, after An Affectionate Heart.
I loved the history lesson. I’ve seen pictures of mourning jewelry and yes, frankly I thought the hair jewelry was less appealing. I just think we find it creepy because it’s dead hair. Yet as you stated, there were no photographs and miniatures must have been costly if someone close to did not have the talent. Of course if it was my loved one’s hair, that’s another story. To be able to touch something that was part of them, and available any time….wearing a pendant close to the heart, or a ring always on your hand.