Jewellery set from the period of national mourning: necklace and bracelet

Made of lacquer, the set of the so-called patriotic jewellery comprises symbols that enjoyed popularity at the time: the chains refer to enslavement whereas the cross, anchor and heart form a symbolic triad–faith, hope, love. The jewellery was worn by women under the Russian Partition – the Polish territories were under Russian control as a result of Partitions in 1772, 1793 and 1795, until 1915 – as a sign of mourning after five victims of the brutal repression of a manifestation on 27 February 1861, committed by the Russian gendarmerie. The funeral of the victims was held on 3 March and transformed into a mass protest of the residents of Warsaw. The external signs of “patriotic mourning,” such as black dresses and black jewellery became de rigueur in the city. The women who did not comply with the rule and wore bright colourful clothes risked having black paint spilt on them.

Jewellery set from the period of national mourning: necklace and bracelet
POLISH TERRITORIES UNDER PARTITIONS; 1861
LACQUERWARE
MHW 2026/1-2
NECKLACE: 70 CM, CROSS: 6,5 × 4 CM
BRACELET: 27 CM, ANCHOR: 4 × 3,4 CM, HEART: 3 × 2,4 CM

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