{"product_id":"early-19th-century-french-memento-mori-plaque","title":"Early 19th Century French Memento Mori Plaque","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"iNqyIf\"\u003eBeautiful early 19th century memento mori or memorial plaque. The weeping willow canopy and surrounding cypress foliage are meticulously crafted using the actual hair of a deceased loved one. Fine strands of hair were shaped, glued, and layered over the surface to create a three-dimensional. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"iNqyIf\"\u003eThe shaded details, ground textures, and parts of the sepulchre were often painted using \"dissolved hair\". This technique involved grounding the deceased's hair into a fine powder and mixing it with a binding medium (like gum arabic) to create a custom sepia pigment.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"iNqyIf\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"iNqyIf\"\u003eThe miniature is inscribed with the French word \u003cstrong class=\"rQesXe MPyX\"\u003e\"Souvenir\"\u003c\/strong\u003e(meaning \u003cem class=\"eujQNb\"\u003eremembrance\u003c\/em\u003e or \u003cem class=\"eujQNb\"\u003ememory\u003c\/em\u003e) across the central tomb.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"Fsg96\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"n6owBd awi2gc\"\u003eEvery element depicted in this miniature carries deep symbolic meaning common to Neoclassical and Victorian mourning rituals. The tomb represents the finality of physical death and earthly rest. The massive weeping willow draping over the tomb is a classic symbol of profound sorrow, tears, and grief.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"iNqyIf\"\u003eThe evergreen trees flanking the right side symbolize mourning, the immortality of the soul, and eternal life. The urn\u003c\/span\u003e sitting atop the monument, it serves as a traditional vessel commemorating the departed spirit.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4.75” x 4.75” x .5”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDomestic shipping included.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lagniappe Antiques","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53007607497024,"sku":null,"price":500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0791\/2266\/1696\/files\/E614DA5C-068B-4EC7-8341-56F6C82D2E96.jpg?v=1786388105","url":"https:\/\/lagniappe1812.com\/products\/early-19th-century-french-memento-mori-plaque","provider":"Lagniappe Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}