GEORGIAN MEMENTO MORI SKULL AND CROSSBONES ARMORIAL WAX SEAL MATRIX

Soon to be listed to Metal Corset II is this late 1700s early 1800s French memento mori armorial wax seal matrix depicting a skull and crossbones inside a shield topped with a winged helmet flanked by the initials H V G.

Most likely a 1700s early 1800s Freemason seal which gained its root from the traditions of the York Rite Chivalric Orders.

Here's an interesting link on the history of memento mori symbolism and Freemasonry:
http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/skull-bones.html

PRE-GEORGIAN 1690S MEMENTO MORI ENAMELED SKELETON AND FACETED STUART CRYSTAL MOURNING SLIDE

An extremely fine example of a faceted Stuart Crystal memento mori slide with an enameled skeleton holding a staff in one hand and a tempus fugit (hourglass symbolizing "time flees") in the other.

The skeleton rests upon a bed of brunette hair and is flanked by two high karat gold cipher wire initials.

The sawtooth bezel slide case is 22 karat gold.

VICTORIAN PINCHBECK SEED PEARL HEART AND HAIR MOURNING BROOCH 1860s

Newly listed to Metal Corset II is this stunning Victorian era seed pearl heart and hair memorial Pinchbeck locket brooch.

Check it out!

DESIRE-HAND SERIES NO. 3

I've collected several antique jewelry components over the years that have either been orphaned, such as components to a larger jewelry piece, or broken bits of treasure, such as a locket front. 

These items continue to convey beauty in their own way and just like any orphan, they desire to find a new home and family.

A few of these saved items were used to create this beautiful bracelet and have now found a new home.

The antique jewelry components are as follows:

1. Victorian ship's wheel compass in working order
2. Victorian carved gutta percha castle pendant (probably once from a gutta percha bracelet)
3. Art Nouveau gold filled locket of a beautiful woman with flowing hair and paste stones (front only)
4. Art Deco Habille carved shell cameo locket with diamond necklace
5. Victorian brass hand from an antique chatelaine chain

DAGUERREOTYPE ASSEMBLAGE NECKLACE-HAND SERIES NO. 2

Newly listed to Metal Corset is this Victorian daguerreotype assemblage necklace. 

I've combined it with an Victorian gutta percha hand and rose brooch and an Victorian carved bone or ivory love birds brooch and suspended it from a four stranded necklace which includes an assemblage of:

baroque pearls, antique French faceted steel cut beads from an Art Deco purse, silver and gold faceted pyrite, black spinel beads, antique mother of pearls, antique carved ivory rose beads, antique blue Czech glass beads, bone ring, t-bar from a watch chain, antique rhinestone ball, Victorian 14k gold corrugated beads and a length of gold plated Victorian book chain.

GEORGIAN GOLD ENGRAVED MEMORIAL MOURNING BROOCH WITH FLAMING HEARTS HAIR SEPIA MINIATURE

Newly listed to Metal Corset II is this rare Georgian (1790-1820) flaming hearts hair memorial mourning brooch. 

Beneath the glazed compartment is a beautiful sepia painting which was painstakingly hand created using macerated hair.

Several loving symbolic icons are represented in this memorial piece as follows: 

Cypress Tree:  Symbolic for hope as the trees point towards the heavens
Dog:  Symbolizes Fidelity (rare)
Column or plinth:
     Unbroken-Symbolic for Strength of Life and Eternity
     Broken-Symbolic for Life cut short
Flaming Hearts:  Symbolic forTogetherness and Love
Crown/Wreath:  Symbolic for Redemption

And a monogram/cypher made of hair, "CM" or "MC" which could stand for Charles and Mary, or Christine and Michael, etc.

So, my interpretation of this brooch memorializes two individuals in love, probably a husband and wife, that will continue to love one another for an eternity in fidelity that now reside in heaven and live in the glory of redemption. 

(thank you to www.artofmourning.com for symbolism)

BABY DEAR

Where did you come from, baby dear?
Out of the everywhere into the here.
Where did you get those eyes so blue?
Out of the sky as I came through.
What makes the light in them sparkle and spin?
Some of the starry spikes left in.
Where did you get that little tear?
I found it waiting when I got here.
What makes your forehead so smooth and high?
A soft hand strok’d it as I went by.
What makes your cheek like a warm white rose?
I saw something better than any one knows.
Whence that three-corner’d smile of bliss?
Three angels gave me at once a kiss.
Where did you get this pearly ear?
God spoke, and it came out to hear.
Where did you get those arms and hands?
Love made itself into bonds and bands.
Feet, whence did you come, you darling things?
From the same box as the cherubs’ wings.
How did they all just come to be you?
God thought about me, and so I grew.
But how did you come to us, you dear?
God thought about you, and so I am here.	George Macdonald 1895

GEORGIAN MEMENTO MORI SEPIA ON IVORY SKULL AND CROSSBONES RING

This is an antique Georgian high carat gold content memento mori ring with a watercolor sepia of a skull and crossbones on ivory under a glazed compartment. 

There are willow branches in the background which symbolize mourning. 

The rear is inscribed to a married couple with the same initials, "S T," who died two months apart in 1802.  It is absolutely stunning.

1800s SKULL AND CROSSBONES SECRET SOCIETY COIN

Newest to my collection is this absolutely amazing hand engraved skull and crossbones secret society two cent coin.  It reminds me of a wax seal matrix.

So, this coin represents the Skull and Bones Society which was founded in 1832.  It is an undergraduate (alumni) secret society at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, and the members are known as, "Bonesmen".  Among some of the prominent alumni members were former Presidents William Howard Taft, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush and former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, amongst many others. 

The number 322 is the society's emblem and refers to the death of Demosthenes, a Greek orator, who died in 322 BC.  It is believed that the Greek goddess Eulogia, the goddess of eloquence, came down from the heavens and took up residence in the tomb of the Skull and Bones.  Huh?

Okay, I believe some of these Bonesmen had a little too much to drink the night they came up with 322 because I'm having a hard time finding the connection between Demosthenes' death in 322 B.C. and the goddess Eulogia, but it is a secret society's emblem, so perhaps we're not supposed to know what the true meaning is-after all, it IS a secret....  But if anyone knows more about this legend, please post a message.

Anyway, I'll be using this coin to reproduce memento mori sterling silver earrings, minus the 322. 

So keep a weather eye on Metal Corset. 

VICTORIAN GOLD PLATED SHIP WHEEL COMPASS FOB

I recently found this gorgeous gold plated Victorian ship wheel compass fob.  The back is gorgeous with an engraved star and the constellation of orbiting planets.  One handle is missing, but overall it's a stunning piece.  Soon to be part of an assemblage bracelet from my, "Hand Series."  So keep a weather eye.

GEORGIAN PLAITED HAIR PADLOCK

Soon to be listed to Metal Corset II is this stunning Georgian era padlock with plaited hair under glass.  The opposite side has an intricate hand chased or engraved floral and paisley design.  Measures 1" tall.

MEMENTO MORI AND ROYALIST JEWELRY

Lately, I've noticed a refocus on memento mori and Charles I Royalist jewelry.  I've long been fascinated with the history associated and their beauty.  Out of all the jewelry I've collected over the years, the Stuart crystal pieces, including many Royalist pieces, are favorites.

The images are mostly from the web and are the most beautiful, in my opinion, of memento mori and Royalist pieces I've come across.  I continue to covet them and so desperately need to win that lottery!  Enjoy the beautiful images!

PS-The last photo shows Elizabeth I's ring encrusted with rubies. Inside, two jeweled portraits, one of herself and one of her mother, Anne Boleyn. (I couldn't resist!)

9 CARAT VICTORIAN PLAITED HAIR LOCKET WATCH KEY

Newest to my collection is this exquisite Victorian plaited hair locket watch key in 9 carat gold.  I'm drawn to these plaited hair lockets and can't seem to get enough of them!

THREE VICTORIAN MOURNING HAIR FOB CHAIN NECKLACES

I was very pleased to find these three Victorian gold filled mourning hair chain necklaces today.  I'm especially fond of the one with the fancy clasp.  I will have it recast into pewter and bronze. 

GEORGIAN OR VICTORIAN LACHRYMATORY TEAR CATCHER

Named after the lacrimal glands which secrete tears, these glass vessels were used as far back as the Greeks and Romans alike to collect the tears of mourners. 

It was established that the mourning period would be the length of time it would take a vessel to fill with tears, or the time it took for those tears to evaporate.

This Georgian or Victorian lachrymatory vessel is intricately detailed in gold gilt.  It measures approximately 7" tall.  Soon to be listed to Metal Corset II. 

VICTORIAN HAIR MEMORIAL BLUE ENAMEL LOCKET PENDANT BROOCH

Newly listed to Metal Corset II is this stunning blue enamel locket pendant brooch with a glazed glass hair compartment beneath.

Check it out!

WAXING POETIC II

As I viewed my blog, I noticed one creation that missed dedication, or the honorable mention it deserved.  It is Waxing Poetic II.  One of my newer assemblage creations listed to Metal Corset.

This necklace is a combination of a sterling silver Nun's cross dated 1869, antique 1800s bisque doll and an antique sterling silver Immaculate Heart Of Mary reliquary.

These three relics suspend from a chain made from Art Deco cut steel beads salvaged from a damaged French Art Deco cut steel beaded purse.

Check it out now!

GEORGIAN OR EARLY VICTORIAN STERLING SILVER PLAITED HAIR MEMORIAL LOCKET DOVE BROOCH

This is one of the most incredible brooches I've seen in a long time.  It is a 3-dimensional Georgian or early Victorian sterling silver dove with an amazing plaited hair memorial under glass.  The pin back is comprised of a tube hinged back fastener and "C" clasp.  This dove is religious in nature as it holds an olive branch in its beak.  Measures 1.75" beak to tail.  An absolutely stunning piece.  Soon to be listed to Metal Corset II, so keep a weather eye.