Video replay: The power of sentimental and mourning jewellery
04 Jun 2021
The May NAJ Live focused on conversations around sentimental jewellery, from the history of mourning jewellery, presented by Hayden Peters, to wedding rings, charm bracelets and various other sentimental pieces and motifs, discussed by Helen Dimmick.
Watch the recording of June's NAJ Live
Hayden Peters, an authority on the topic of mourning and sentimental jewellery, founded the Art of Mourning in 2005 as his teaching platform to share knowledge and educate about this important part of Western history from the medieval to modern times.
His Memento Mori presentation was far from morbid though, it was rather liberating to see how the same fear of death or contemplation of mortality has been processed and interpreted by many generations before us.
Hayden explains,
Mortality and jewellery are linked, from Medieval piety to 18th-century values in social status and wealth. The designs of death and how they represented identity in jewellery offer an insight into family values and social/personal status. Religion, politics, profit and loss are the topics of this investigation into memento mori and the image of death in jewellery.
The jewellery and artefacts discussed by Hayden were split into four chapters:
- The Holy Body: c.1300 - c.1500
- Death & Identity: c.1500 - c.1760
- Philosophy: c.1760-c.1900
- Values / Orders and War: c.1900-Today
Helen Dimmick, NAJ Retail Ambassador, expanded the context of sentimental jewellery and discussed the commercial opportunities of selling sentimental jewellery.
Sentiment has been intimately connected to jewellery from the very beginning, so amplifying the emotions and meaning around a jewellery piece is a powerful way to get prospective customers invested in buying a piece.
Helen adds,
In an increasingly precarious world, there is a revived interest in craftsmanship, decoration, and the reassurance of love and friendship as represented by jewellery.
Another savvy way to sell jewellery Helen suggests is using motifs such as:
- Hearts - a decorative device as well as a symbol of love, romantic, family, friendship
- Knots - a simple metaphor, knots are easily tied but are stronger than the material from which they are made
- Horseshoe - popular since 1880 good luck when pointing up
- Wings - protection from evil or the wings of love, angel wings
- Snakes - eternal love when seen biting their tails
- Clasped hands - commitment, marriage seal or hands of lovers
What are NAJ Lives?
The NAJ Live is a simple format of presentations from industry experts, introduced and questioned by a knowledgeable guest host.
When’s the next NAJ Live?
Digital NAJ Lives with bubbles take place on the last Thursday of the month, starting at 10am until 11.30am. Members can register as many employees to view and replay the webinars as they see fit.
The next NAJ Live event will focus on managing staff post-reopening, taking place at 10am on Thursday 24th June.
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Source: The National Association of Jewellers