Death Becomes Her: Victorian Mourning Clothing and Jewelry
The Victorians cared very much about how outward appearances reflected inward sentiments and morality. One way they expressed themselves was through mourning clothes and jewelry. Queen Victoria famously wore black from the time of Prince Albert's death in 1861 till her own death some 40 years later. Mourning regulations were handy social signals to others. Deaths were announced via mourning stationary and sealed with black wax. Sally Mitchell, in Daily Life in Victorian England reminds us that, "Mourning clothes made other people aware of a loss and prevented intrusive personal remarks."Queen Victoria's Daughters in Mourning |
The Business of Mourning
According to Kristine Hughes (The Writer’s Guide to Everyday Life in Regency and Victorian England), early in the nineteenth century ladies' magazines "regularly featured fashion plates depicting proper funeral attire, along with articles detailing proper etiquette for the occasion."
She goes on to tell us that linen drapers shops offered mourning departments. Why? It was big, big business. Who didn't know someone who had died? Women were limited to the colors black and then grey, but might creatively use different fabrics, textures, and styling to indicate status, wealth, and personal taste.
Hughes claims that, "one of the first categories of clothing to be mass-produced was mourning clothes." Believably so!
What to Wear
Victorian Mourning Gowns |
Mitchell continues, "During the first year of mourning, widows were to conduct themselves as veritable social outcasts, forced to refuse all invitations, the only visits permitted being to close relatives or church services, including weddings and christenings." The parent or a child of the deceased was expected to mourn for a shorter period of time: Twelve months in whole, which eventually moved in color from black, to grey before the full color spectrum was allowed along with full engagement in social activities. Siblings mourned for six months.
Funerals
Unless the death was a suicide, funerals usually took place in the morning. Mitchell says, "Among the gentry and prosperous middle classes, the coach was draped in black velvet and the horses wore black plumes," and, "Male friends or hired mourners called mutes walked alongside. Sometimes they carried the heavy black pall that was draped over the coffin. Everyone attending the funeral wore black garments made of wool and crepe. Men wore black gloves; flowing bands of black cloth known as weepers were tied around their hats. Even among the poorest, it was important for immediate relatives to wear black clothing."
No family? Few friends? No problem. Mourners would be hired. In fact, the British newspaper The Daily Express newspaper tells us that mutes, "looked tragic during the service and doubled as waiters for the wake. Dickens despised them and in the funeral in Martin Chuzzlewit he describes: 'Two mutes… looking as mournful as could reasonably be expected of men with such a thriving job in hand.'"
Black Baubles, Hair Rings and Pulled Teeth
Jet Mourning Jewelry |
Items made of jet grew popular after the Queen wore it upon the death of Prince Albert, a custom she did not abandon clear to her own death in 1901. According to Kristine Hughes (The Writer’s Guide to Everyday Life in Regency and Victorian England), "Jet jewelry has been associated with mourning for some time, though it was not mass-produced before the early 19th century. Jet is made from the fossilized driftwood of the monkey puzzle tree and is also found in the form of slate." Mitchell adds," Very close relatives might wear a brooch or watch-fob woven from the dead person’s hair."
Yes, hair.
Hair Brooch |
Hughes tells us that, "Jewelry made from the hair of the deceased was popular from 1790 to 1840, and this, too, was incorporated into mourning jewelry, being given settings of black or white enamel, jet with gold, and often embellished with the words 'In Memoriam.'"
Sometimes they would take a tooth from a deceased and mount it in a ring or a necklace. They didn't eat much sugar then so contrary to current opinion, their teeth were pretty good. Just, perhaps, not pretty in the finger.
Memento Mori
Memento Mori is Latin for, Remember... you have to die. During the early days of photography, the Victorians would take pictures of the recently deceased in their homes, gardens, or even beds, posed doing something they would have done while alive. Perhaps it was a macabre way to remind the survivors to think of the fleetingness of life, and to number their days. The oddest, most morbid photos included babies who had passed away settled neatly into their prams.
What's Old Is New Again
It's true that there is nothing under the sun, and mourning is big business again. Black still predominates, and while pictures of those passed are not popular, The Daily Express reports that, "Rent A Mourner, an Essex-based company providing sad people for funerals when (as its website delicately puts it) 'here may be a low turnout expected'. Bookings are also on the up because people want something more dramatic than a mousey British send-off. They want sobbing, hair tearing and breast beating, in the way of excitable foreigners."
Perhaps this is an answer to temporary job needs. As Assistant Editor Jennifer Selway puts it, "Yes, a career in professional mourning could be the answer. Short hours, free booze and all the ham sandwiches you can eat."
No hairy brooches required.
About Mist of Midnight
Publication Date: March 10, 2015 | Howard Books | Formats: eBook, Paperback | Pages: 384
Series: Daughters of Hampshire
Genre: Historical/Christian/Romance
In the first of a brand-new series set in Victorian England, a young woman returns home from India after the death of her family to discover her identity and inheritance are challenged by the man who holds her future in his hands.
Rebecca Ravenshaw, daughter of missionaries, spent most of her life in India. Following the death of her family in the Indian Mutiny, Rebecca returns to claim her family estate in Hampshire, England. Upon her return, people are surprised to see her...and highly suspicious. Less than a year earlier, an imposter had arrived with an Indian servant and assumed not only Rebecca's name, but her home and incomes.
That pretender died within months of her arrival; the servant fled to London as the young woman was hastily buried at midnight. The locals believe that perhaps she, Rebecca, is the real imposter. Her home and her father's investments reverted to a distant relative, the darkly charming Captain Luke Whitfield, who quickly took over. Against her best intentions, Rebecca begins to fall in love with Luke, but she is forced to question his motives—does he love her or does he just want Headbourne House? If Luke is simply after the property, as everyone suspects, will she suffer a similar fate as the first “Rebecca”?
A captivating Gothic love story set against a backdrop of intrigue and danger, Mist of Midnight will leave you breathless.
Praise for Mist of Midnight
"Intriguing secondary characters and lush scenery contribute to the often sinister, even creepy, moments readers will come to anticipate. Infusing her story with mystery, tension, and emotion, Byrd (To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn) strikes a fine balance between the darkness of a Gothic mystery and the sweetness of a captivating love story. Byrd—and Brontë—fans will enjoy this first of the new Daughters of Hampshire series." - Publishers Weekly“A marvelous mingling of mystery and deeply moving family and romantic love, Mist of Midnight kept me guessing until the very end. A house on a cliff, a Victorian-Gothic atmosphere, a cast of suspicious characters including a dark, brooding hero and a strong heroine: shades (or mists) of Jane Eyre and Rebecca! I look forward to the next novel in this compelling new series.” (Karen Harper, New York Times bestselling author of Mistress of Mourning)
“Mist of Midnight is wonderfully atmospheric, with all the right elements for a true Gothic novel, from sounds that go bump in the night to characters who are not at all what they seem. The spiritual underpinning is solid, comforting, even as we're trapped in the author's finely spun web of mystery, romance, and a sense of foreboding that doesn't lift until the final page. Charlotte Brontë? Victoria Holt? Meet Sandra Byrd, the modern mistress of Gothic romance!” (Liz Curtis Higgs, New York Times bestselling author of Mine Is the Night)
“Among the many things I love about reading a Sandra Byrd novel is knowing that her words will transport me to another place and time, that she will win me over with intriguing and complex characters, and that I’ll savor every word. Mist of Midnight is no exception. I loved this book! Sandra Byrd could belong to the writing group of the Bronte sisters if they’d had one. Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre along with crumbling mansions, mysterious distant cousins, and one woman’s journey to prove who she really is are just few layers that ripple through the mists. Bravo, Sandra! Another winner.” (Jane Kirkpatrick, award-winning author of A Light in the Wilderness)
“Richly written and multi-layered, Mist of Midnight blends traditional England and exotic India in a historical feat worthy of Victoria Holt. Breathless danger, romance, and intrigue made this series opener by the ultra-talented Sandra Byrd a compelling must-read!” (Laura Frantz, author of Love’s Reckoning)
"Once again, Sandra Byrd delivers a richly layered story that will leave you eagerly awaiting the next book in this brand-new series. Mist of Midnight has it all: intriguing and memorable characters—including a central female protagonist who is both complex and inspiring—a plot chock-full of mystery and suspense, and a Victorian gothic setting, impeccably researched and artfully and evocatively relayed. Prepare to be transported!" (Karen Halvorsen Schreck, author of Sing For Me)
“Mist of Midnight is a beautiful, haunting tale. Sandra Byrd masterfully weaves together both romance and suspense among a cast of mysterious characters. I was immediately swept into the wonder of this story, and I loved unraveling all the secrets and discovering exactly what happened at the old Headbourne House.” (Melanie Dobson, author of Chateau of Secrets and The Courier of Caswell Hall)
“Sandra Byrd’s trademark attention to historical accuracy combines with an eerily building intrigue to envelope readers in a sense of dark foreboding that hinges precariously between hope and desperation. Mist of Midnight is a subtly haunting, beautifully atmospheric, and decadently romantic Victorian tale that will find a comfortable home among the best Gothic romances of days gone by.” (Serena Chase, author of The Ryn and contributor to USA Today’s Happy Ever After blog)
“Not since Jane Eyre have I read a Gothic romance that has captured my heart so completely. From the exotic India to an English estate shrouded in mystery, Byrd’s eye for detail shines through on every page. Romance lovers are sure to devour the tale of Rebecca Ravenshaw and her search for the truth behind the mysteries of Headbourne House and the handsome young captain who lives on the estate.” (Renee Chaw, reviewer at Black ‘n Gold Girl’s Book Spot)
“From the first word to the last, Mist of Midnight is a completely absorbing romantic, and mysterious, novel. Ms. Byrd’s writing is splendid, and her characters are so complex and endearing that they leap off the pages. I couldn’t put it down. An absolutely irresistible read!” (Anne Girard, author of Madame Picasso)
Buy Mist of Midnight
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About the Author
After earning her first rejection at the age of thirteen, bestselling author Sandra Byrd has now published more than forty books. Her adult fiction debut, Let Them Eat Cake, was a Christy Award finalist, as was her first historical novel, To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn. To Die For was also named by Library Journal as a Best Books Pick for 2011 and The Secret Keeper: A Novel of Kateryn Parr, was named a Library Journal Best Books Pick for 2012. Roses Have Thorns: A Novel of Elizabeth I published in April, 2013.Sandra has also published dozens of books for tweens and teens including the Secret Sisters Series, London Confidential Series and a devotional for tweens.
A former textbook acquisitions editor, Sandra has published many nonfiction articles and books. She is passionate about helping new writers develop their talent and their work toward traditional or self publication. As such, she has mentored and coached hundreds of new writers and continues to coach dozens to success each year.
Please visit www.sandrabyrd.com to learn more, or to invite Sandra to your bookclub via Skype. You can also connect with Sandra on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Goodreads.
Mist of Midnight Blog Tour Schedule
Monday, March 2Review & Giveaway at Unshelfish
Review & Giveaway at Peeking Between the Pages
Tuesday, March 3
Review at A Chick Who Reads
Review & Giveaway at Broken Teepee
Wednesday, March 4
Review at Library of Clean Reads
Review at Oh, For the Hook of a Book
Thursday, March 5
Review at Reading the Past
Review & Giveaway at A Literary Vacation
Review & Guest Post at With Her Nose Stuck in a Book
Friday, March 6
Review at Ageless Pages Reviews
Monday, March 9
Review & Giveaway at Historical Readings & Views
Tuesday, March 10
Review at Just One More Chapter
Interview at Oh, For the Hook of a Book
Wednesday, March 11
Review & Giveaway at The Lit Bitch
Thursday, March 12
Review at Book Drunkard
Spotlight at Books and Benches
Saturday, March 14
Review & Giveaway at Forever Ashley
Monday, March 16
Review at Flashlight Commentary
Tuesday, March 17
Review at Layered Pages
Wednesday, March 18
Review at The Eclectic Reader
Thursday, March 19
Review at CelticLady's Reviews
Guest Post & Giveaway at Passages to the Past
Friday, March 20
Interview & Giveaway at Let Them Read Books
Giveaway
To enter to win a Victorian Lace Bookmark please leave a comment below with your email address.Rules
– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on April 9th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to US residents only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion
– Winner have 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.
The bookmarks are lovely, as are the clothes. I wish we could still acquire the jet jewelry. tchevrestt(at)yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteMist of Midnight sounds fascinating and captivating. The era and the subject interests me greatly. What a great post. Wishing you great success. Thanks for this lovely giveaway. saubleb(at)gmail)dot)com
ReplyDeleteI love reading about the Victorian era.
ReplyDeletepawnshoplady53@hotmail.com
This book was awesome!!! Im actually in mourning because I finished it so fast !!!! I loved it!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis was such an interesting post! I have seen mourning jewelry a few times when out antiquing.
ReplyDeleteglindathegood@bellsouth.net
I have always found Victorian morning protocol to be a very fascinating (and macabre) subject. The lengths that they went through for publicly acknowledged mourning! I can't imagine wearing black for a socially regulated time period. Everyone mourns in their own ways!
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your post! I own a jet necklace which belonged to my grandmother but have been
ReplyDeleteunable to authenticate it. One jeweler I showed it to had never even heard of jet beads.
Look forward to reading Mist of Midnight!!
sulebol@aol.com
The bookmarks are lovely. Would love to win one. Didn't know there was so much to learn about the mourning period during the Victorian era. It's all very interesting. Would love to read the novel also.
ReplyDeleteteakettle58@yahoo.com
Have always been fascinated by Victorian mourning rituals, really enjoyed this post.
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting me, Amy! I thought the mourning customs were really captivating, too!!
ReplyDeleteI love beautiful bookmarks but I've never had a lace one. Would be wonderful to win one. Mist of Midnight is on my wish list.
ReplyDeletelcbrower40(at)gmail(dot)com
Fascinating nag article I love bookmarks this one would be lovely to have,Lomazowr@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteMist of Midnight is already on my TRL I can't wait to read it. Thank you for such an interesting post. I'm aware of the black clothing & hair jewelry but never heard about the teeth.. The book mark is really beautiful.
ReplyDeleteCarol L
Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com
I HEART bookmarks!!!
ReplyDeletethank you for the giveaway!!
cyn209 at juno dot com
I collect interesting bookmarks and this one certainly qualifies - it is lovely. Looking forward to reading your book.
ReplyDeletecatoct96@gmail.com
Beautiful bookmark. Interesting customs.
ReplyDeletesaganchilds ( a) gmail.com
What an interesting article!
ReplyDeleteAnd a beautiful bookmark!
Thanks for the giveaway!
sandy.mccarthy@yahoo.com