Antique Tuesday

Georgian Mourning Jewelry

Each week I pick an interesting piece of antique jewelry from Adin Fine Antique Jewelry to share with you.  This week I am featuring this precious and highly emotional Georgian mourning ring.  

Circa 1792- Retail Value $4,532

Georgian Period spans between 1714 and 1837.  During this time there was great political upheaval during the reigns of four English Kings named George.  Mourning jewelry was common during this period.  People often made jewelry with a lock of hair from a loved one.

 We have seen the names and dates on tombstones but they rarely move us.  This little ring is not the most impressive piece at first  glance but turn it over.  Read the engraving and suddenly you are transported to a tragic moment 200 years ago…the inscription in the ring reads: 

W.A.
aged 4 Yrs
died 6 July
1792
G.R.A.
aged 4 Mo's
died 12 Dec
1792

 

Then take a look at the top of the ring again and know that the hair used is from two little children from the same family who died in the same year, 1792. One child of 4 years old and then 5 months later the baby of only 4 months old…….. 

It is an old saying that one is really dead when one is out of people's mind; perhaps it is a warming thought that these children still aren't out of the people's mind yet, not even after 200 years. 

I hope you enjoyed today's post.  If you have a child please give them a hug in honor of these two little souls who passed away 218 years ago.