• Black bead bouquet brooch with silver filigree beads, a glass pearl and a white porcelain doll arm on aged cream linen beside dried lavender, an oak leaf and a pinecone
  • Mourning Bouquet Brooch pinned to a linen dress form: a cluster of black beads with silver filigree, faceted onyx drops, a glass pearl and a white porcelain doll arm hanging below
  • Close-up of the brooch's black glass bead cluster, silver-tone filigree, faceted black onyx drop, glass pearl and the porcelain doll arm wrapped in black wire
  • Side view of the black bead bouquet brooch showing silver filigree, onyx drops, small pearl dangles and the white porcelain doll arm on cream fabric with lavender
  • Mourning brooch lying on tea-stained linen: black beads, silver filigree, a large glass pearl, faceted onyx and the porcelain doll arm reaching out
  • Video of the Mourning Bouquet Brooch on aged linen with dried lavender, oak leaves and a pinecone, showing the black bead cluster, silver filigree and porcelain doll arm
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My Nostalgic Soul

Mourning Bouquet Brooch: Vintage Onyx, Glass Pearls & Porcelain Doll Arm

Mourning Bouquet Brooch: Vintage Onyx, Glass Pearls & Porcelain Doll Arm

$48.99 USD
$48.99 USD
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When Prince Albert died in the winter of 1861, Queen Victoria dressed in black and never really took it off again, and a whole country followed her into mourning. Grief had rules then. Jet and onyx instead of gold, a pin worn at the collar, a little bouquet of black where there used to be roses, and nobody hid what they were missing. They wore it close to the heart, right where everyone could see it.

I have always thought those old mourning pieces were some of the most tender jewelry anyone ever made, because every single one of them was made for somebody who was loved and gone.

So I gathered a Mourning Bouquet of my own, from found objects. I made this one from two vintage earrings, old faceted onyx drops (hence the flaws, and I love them for it), glass pearls, and one tiny haunted porcelain doll arm reaching out from a cluster of black beads. The silver-tone filigree from those earrings tucks in between the beads like bits of old lace, and no two of these will ever be the same.

She's moody, a little haunted, a little tender. Meant to be pinned to a cardigan, a collar, a hat band, or your favorite tote.

Details

  • Vintage silver-tone filigree findings, from two vintage earrings
  • Old faceted onyx drops, with the small flaws of age
  • Glass pearls and a bouquet of black beads
  • Tiny porcelain doll arm
  • Black bead bouquet approx. 1.5" across, full pin approx. 2.25" long
  • Secure pin back
  • One of a kind, no two will ever be alike
  • Handmade with love in my cottage studio in Kansas

From My Nostalgic Soul to yours. — Gwendalynn Grey

Care, Wear & Provenance

A little history, a little care

Every piece I make is built by hand from things that have already lived a life. Antique bisque doll fragments, old keys and photographs, lace, silk ribbon, chandelier crystals and vintage beads, all put back together into something you can wear. They're sturdier than they look (the bisque in particular), but they are still old, and a little care goes a long way toward keeping them beautiful.

Wearing your piece

  • Put your jewelry on last, after perfume, lotion and hairspray, and take it off before you bathe, swim, sleep or do anything strenuous.
  • Keep the whole piece away from water and harsh chemicals and high heat. 
  • Be gentle with the bisque and the other fragile parts. A drop onto a hard floor or a hard knock can chip or crack them.

Cleaning

A soft, dry cloth is all it needs. Please don't use jewelry dips, silver polish or an ultrasonic cleaner, and don't rub the bisque with a polishing cloth, because they can strip old finishes, lift paint and loosen joints. Old silver-tone and brass metal darkens with time. That's normal, a naturally protective coating, and it's part of the look, so there's no need to polish it away.

Storing it

Keep each piece on its own in a dry place out of direct sunlight, so nothing scratches or tangles. Pieces with ribbon or lace keep their shape best laid flat, and the box or pouch yours came in makes a good home for it.

Please note

These are keepsakes for grown-ups, not toys, and they aren't meant for children. They have small parts that can come loose, and some old metal findings may possibly contain lead or nickel. If your skin is sensitive to base metals, you may want to wear yours over clothing or for shorter stretches.

Provenance and materials

Every bisque doll in my Frozen Charlotte and Frozen Charlie pieces is an authentic antique. The rest of a piece is a mix. Some parts are antique or vintage, like keys, lace, photographs and beads, and some are newer replicas. When I know how old something is or where it came from, I say so in that piece's description. Otherwise I can't promise the exact age, maker or history of every part.

Because these pieces are made from old things, they can show small variations, signs of age and little imperfections. I think that's a big part of their charm, and it's what makes each one the only one of its kind. That's why they chose you and me.

From My Nostalgic Soul to yours. — Gwendalynn Grey

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