Victorian Bloomed Gold Mourning Lace Pin with Ruby and Pearl Flower

Contrary to popular belief, hair jewelry was not always mourning jewelry. Sometimes these intricately woven pieces were created as love tokens from sweethearts, family members and cherished friends as a way to feel closer to the other. It also was worn merely as fashion since hair jewelry was in vogue during the Victorian era.

Gaining in popularity during the Civil War, hair work was an affordable and common at-home drawing room past time, much like knitting. Patterns and templates were widely available in newspapers, fashion magazines and periodicals. Many young women earned a living making hair jewelry at home.

For those less skilled or crafty, hair jewelry also could be purchased through catalogs or from jewelry stores. All one had to do was decide which piece they would like to have created and then send off a lock of hair to have it transformed into the piece of their dreams. 

This striking, yet understated lace pin was made in Birmingham by the Corfield & Co. company. It is made of 9k yellow gold and uses a blend of polished and bloomed gold. 

Bloomed gold utilizes an acid immersion technique to bond an additional layer of gold to a piece giving it a matte appearance. This matte look was often used in mourning pieces such as this. 

A lovely ruby and seed pearl flower decorates the center. Secured under glass on the back is a woven lock of platinum blonde hair. Sadly, there are no engravings or clues as to who the hair belonged to. 

Still, it is a lovely piece of jewelry showcasing a since forgotten past time of our ancestors.