12K Rose Gold Georgian Mourning Braided Hair Brooch

This lovely piece of mourning jewelry from the Georgian era is a sentimental reminder of a loved one. This brooch features delicate light blonde hair that has been woven into a triple braid of hair. The hair has been framed under an oval piece of original bevelled cut crystal, mounted onto rose gold. Around the cut crystal is faceted jet that enhance the dramatic mood of this piece. Jet is a rare organic gemstone, derived from decaying wood under extreme pressure. This brooch is a wonderful memory object.

The rose gold is soft, and on the back we can see traces of an inscription where there was once writing. This is a high quality piece of craftsmanship that was worn over the decades with much care. The original pieces that make up this jewelry are really impeccable, making this piece a rare find.

The brooch is slightly curved in a lovely organic form, adding sensitivity to this piece. The brooch measures 1 inch by 5/8 of an inch. The gold has been acid tested to be 12K gold.

Mourning jewelry was especially made in remembrance of a loved one, particularly in England. Mourning jewelry was popular in the mid 1800's before photography became readily available; since creating portraits of lost loves or family members were expensive, these alternative treasures were made so one could carry a small part of their loved one on their body.