AuctionsOct 18, 2024
Piece of the Week: Babe Paley’s Clip-Brooch NecklaceCollectionsOct 25, 2024
Piece of the Week: A Haunting Piece of Mourning Jewelry
The pendant, circa the late 1700s, likely was commissioned to remember a loved one who died young.
Halloween is the time of year to celebrate all things macabre and there is nothing darker and more haunting than an antique piece of mourning jewelry.
This pendant, circa the late 1700s, has a low-karat gold frame surrounding a sepia ink depiction of an urn resting atop a pillar that reads, “Safe will I keep these dear remains.”
On the right side of the image a woman is resting her arm on the pillar, while the left side shows an angel cutting a rose, a reference to the idiom, “nip’d in the bud.”
An oval-shaped piece of bone serves as the canvas for this piece of mourning jewelry.
It’s likely this pendant was commissioned after the death of a young person because of the symbolism stemming from the rose, which was cut before it had the chance to fully grow, KIL N.Y.C. CEO Konstantinos I. Leoussis explained in an email to National Jeweler.
The antique piece, which originally was a clasp before being turned into a pendant, comes from the Georgian era, when mourning jewelry was common.
Pieces were created as tributes to deceased loved ones as a way to honor their memory and cushion the loss.
Urns were often depicted in these pieces as a symbol of the soul’s departure from the body. Skulls and weeping willows were frequently seen in mourning jewelry as well.
Portraits typically were painted on ivory or enamel and encased in silver or gold, like this pendant, and occasionally surrounded by pearls to symbolize tears.
In the Victorian period, human hair was incorporated into mourning jewelry as a way to hold on to a physical piece of the deceased while symbols were used less, replaced by portraits of the deceased.
This mourning pendant is available for $1,800 at KIL N.Y.C.
To view more antique mourning jewelry, visit KIL N.Y.C.’s website.
Related stories will be right here …
This pendant, circa the late 1700s, has a low-karat gold frame surrounding a sepia ink depiction of an urn resting atop a pillar that reads, “Safe will I keep these dear remains.”
On the right side of the image a woman is resting her arm on the pillar, while the left side shows an angel cutting a rose, a reference to the idiom, “nip’d in the bud.”
An oval-shaped piece of bone serves as the canvas for this piece of mourning jewelry.
It’s likely this pendant was commissioned after the death of a young person because of the symbolism stemming from the rose, which was cut before it had the chance to fully grow, KIL N.Y.C. CEO Konstantinos I. Leoussis explained in an email to National Jeweler.
The antique piece, which originally was a clasp before being turned into a pendant, comes from the Georgian era, when mourning jewelry was common.
Pieces were created as tributes to deceased loved ones as a way to honor their memory and cushion the loss.
Urns were often depicted in these pieces as a symbol of the soul’s departure from the body. Skulls and weeping willows were frequently seen in mourning jewelry as well.
Portraits typically were painted on ivory or enamel and encased in silver or gold, like this pendant, and occasionally surrounded by pearls to symbolize tears.
In the Victorian period, human hair was incorporated into mourning jewelry as a way to hold on to a physical piece of the deceased while symbols were used less, replaced by portraits of the deceased.
This mourning pendant is available for $1,800 at KIL N.Y.C.
To view more antique mourning jewelry, visit KIL N.Y.C.’s website.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Collections
The Latest
Policies & IssuesJul 24, 2026
New Trump Tariffs: What They Mean for Jewelry The new sweeping slate of tariffs impacts 60 countries, including India, China, Thailand, Hong Kong, and the United Arab Emirates.
TrendsJul 24, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: Ode to ‘The Odyssey’From coin pendants to diamond shields, these old world-inspired jewels are the perfect accessory for an epic journey.
TrendsJul 24, 2026
Courtney Leidy’s Silk Cord Pendants Center Unexpected Pairings Our Piece of the Week pairs a checkerboard-cut amethyst with an ivy green silk cord.
Brought to you by
Wedding Band Trends 2026: Personalization Takes Center StageColored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.
PodcastsJul 23, 2026
Episode 7: Reinhold Jewelers on the Power of RelationshipsMildred Marcano Abrams and Yael Reinhold join the podcast to talk community connections, holiday plans, and preserving Reinhold’s legacy.
Weekly QuizJul 23, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
SourcingJul 23, 2026
De Beers’ Production Jumps 88 Percent in Q2 Production also was up in the first half of 2026 but is expected to “substantially” decrease in H2 as two key mines undergo maintenance.
IndependentsJul 23, 2026
Sissy's Log Cabin Opens Casino StoreThe jeweler’s newest store is inside Arkansas’ Saracen Casino Resort.
Brought to you by
Building the Future of Jewelry Retail: DCA Expands Education, Leadership Development, and Workforce SolutionsDCA is preparing the next generation of professionals by supporting workforce development, leadership growth, and career advancement.
WatchesJul 23, 2026
Movado Inks Licensing Deal With Kate Spade New YorkThe watch company will design, manufacture, and distribute Kate Spade New York watches.
Policies & IssuesJul 22, 2026
Trump to Put 50% Tariff on Canadian Goods The higher tax is set to go into effect in August and will apply to loose polished diamonds as well as precious and base metals jewelry.
IndependentsJul 22, 2026
Liljenquist Beckstead Opens Rolex New BoutiqueIt’s located in Tysons Galleria, an upscale shopping center in the Washington, D.C., metro area.
Events & AwardsJul 22, 2026
NY Now Returns in August Under New OwnershipThe show, recently acquired by Rockview Management Group, will be held at New York City’s Javits Center from Aug. 2-4.
ColumnistsJul 21, 2026
Sherry Smith: Shattering the Illusion of the ‘Either/Or’ Diamond MarketSmith offers retailers guidance on creating an environment where natural and lab-grown diamonds can both thrive.
Events & AwardsJul 21, 2026
Apollo Funds Completes Emerald AcquisitionFormer Emerald President and CEO Hervé Sedky has transitioned to the role of senior advisor.
CollectionsJul 21, 2026
Graff’s New Butterfly High Jewelry Brooches MetamorphosizeThe 12-piece capsule collection transforms from brooches to pendants.
SourcingJul 21, 2026
Anglo Reportedly Selects Gareth Penny’s Consortium as Top Bidder for De BeersA Botswana government official told lawmakers Anglo has selected The Global Diamond Consortium, an entity chaired by Penny, to buy De Beers.
Policies & IssuesJul 20, 2026
Tariffs on Brazil to Increase But Rough Gemstones ExemptThe new tariff, imposed after a Trump administration study, is 25 percent and will stack on top of existing tariffs.
CollectionsJul 20, 2026
Vhernier Transforms ‘Freccia’ Collection Into High JewelryThe collection from 2014 has been reinterpreted into high jewelry with its signature triangular-shaped elements.
MajorsJul 20, 2026
Krista Collins Walters Promoted to Publisher of InstoreShe will also take on the role of vice president of jewelry for SmartWork Media, a newly created position.
Events & AwardsJul 20, 2026
TJS Accepting Speaker Proposals for 2027 EventOrganizers are looking for presentations on topics like manufacturing, technology and research, bench work, gemstones, and sustainability.
CollectionsJul 17, 2026
HOWL Taps Shailene Woodley for ‘Home Sweet Home’ CampaignWoodley is seen in the campaign wearing our Piece of the Week, the “Frida” collar featuring 13 pieces of hand-carved Venetian glass.
SourcingJul 17, 2026
U.K. Woman Pays £5 for £15K Diamond Ring at Car Boot SaleA WeBuyVintage jewelry expert uncovered how much the flea market find was actually worth.
SourcingJul 17, 2026
Diamond Dealer Jeff Pancis Pens MemoirThe founder of natural colored diamond wholesaler Pancis Gems shares stories from his five decades in the industry.
Events & AwardsJul 17, 2026
Gem Awards Opens 2027 Nomination PeriodSubmissions for the milestone 25th annual Gem Awards will be accepted across three categories from now through July 31.
EditorsJul 16, 2026
Q&A: Guzema’s Co-Owners On Its US Expansion, 10-Year AnniversaryValeriya Guzema and Mariana Lenha look back on the last decade and discuss the Ukrainian brand’s first U.S. store.
SourcingJul 16, 2026
Ekati to Close, Leaving Canada With One Diamond Mine The diamond mine, which opened nearly 30 years ago in Canada’s Northwest Territories, is expected to shut down by mid-August.
FinancialsJul 16, 2026
Richemont’s Jewelry Sales Soar for the Seventh Quarter in a RowJewelry sales for the company, which owns Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Vhernier, and Buccellati, rose 21 percent in the first quarter.
