History of Victorian Mourning Customs

No era in history has had its living more immersed in dying than the Victorian era that was named for Queen Victoria, the popular and pious monarch of the British empire who ruled England from 1823 to1901. Queen Victoria donned mourning attire when her beloved husband died, and she remained in mourning for the remainder of her life. The nineteenth century world followed Queen Victoria's lead.

Death was no stranger to the Victorians. Women commonly died in childbirth. Men were lost at sea or died in wars or industrial and farm accidents. Fires, diseases, the lack of proper medical care, poor nutrition, and unsanitary living conditions also contributed to a society that lived surrounded by death. Funeral processions in the streets were a daily sight. The average life span was a mere 50 years.

The Victorians were the first  Christian society to wholly embrace the concept of a better life in heaven after death. They took solace in this. Death was not the most tragic event for them, but to die not remembered and not mourned was greatly feared. Thus, properly mourning the dead became a demand society placed upon the living that encompassed all walks of life at all economic levels.

Due to the nature of women, the vast majority of mourning the dead fell to female family members. A woman's entire outward appearance and dress spoke of reverence for the dearly departed. The length of her mourning period was determined by her relationship to the deceased. A woman mourning her husband, for example, was required by society to mourn for two years.  

Today, modern society marvels at the death inspired beauty and grace of the Victorian era mourning jewelry, clothing, art, literature, photographs, and memorabilia. These items have become very popular with collectors today and the value of these collectibles are soaring.

Tips On Collecting:

• Always consider the condition of the item. A true collector only wants items that are in excellent condition. Example: A Victorian brooch should have the "c" clasp. If the clasp is missing or has been replaced with a newer "safety" clasp, the brooch has lost much of its value. The pin should project beyond the brooch and be visable from the front of the brooch when not being worn.
• Look for the unusual. Example: There are hundreds of Victorian post mortem photographs for sale in the market place so look for examples with unusual themes or subject matter.
• Collect quality items. Example: A Victorian mourning ring that is 18 ct. will always be worth more than a like item that is merely gold-filled.
• Look for personalization. Example: A postmortem photo where the subject is identified is more collectible than one that is not. A piece of jewelry that is engraved with a name, initials, or an obit date is more collectible than a piece that is not engraved.
• Always buy from a reputable seller. Check the ebay feed-back and read what others have said about this seller.

For more reading about this fascinating subject, refer to the newly released book, Fashionable Mourning written by Mary Brett. This book is available from Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. at www.schifferbooks.com

Ready To Buy?

•  Mourning Jewelry   Jewelry encasing or made from human hair is especially collectible today. Hair was popular because of the nature of hair. It was very personal, was easy to carry or make into jewelry, and it endured the ages.
• Post Mortem Photographs  It was common in Victorian times to photograph the dead and openly display the photographs on walls or in family photo albums. Post mortem photos of children are common. Sadly, the post mortem picture of a child was often the only photograph a grieving Victorian parent had to remember their lost child.
• Mourning Clothing  The Victorians were the first to wear black when mourning. They believed ghosts could not see a mortal who was dressed in black.
• Mourning Art  Death was a prominent theme in much of Victorian art and literature. Magnificent examples of such art can be found on ebay and at antique shops and shows.
• Queen Victoria   Many people collect Queen Victoria memorabilia in England and around the world.