Willow Mourning Pendant

A tear drop shaped necklace with a willow tree on the inside. The willow tree is made of hair. This necklace is sitting on a white lace doily on top of a wooden table.
A willow tree mourning pendant from the Eldon House collection

Country of Origin: Canada
Year: ca. 1900
Materials: Metal, paper, glass, and hair 

Willow trees were symbols of mourning in the Victorian Era, associated with a verse from Psalms, “By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.” –Psalms 137:1

The Victorians used the symbol of a willow in their mourning practices, putting images of willows on graves, and in mourning jewelry. This piece uses hair to form the leaves of the willow tree. This pendant belonged to one of the Harris Family.

We acknowledge that we are on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak and Attawandaron. We honour and respect the history, languages and culture of the diverse Indigenous people who call this territory home.

We acknowledge all the treaties that are specific to this area: the Two Row Wampum Belt Treaty of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy/Silver Covenant Chain; the Beaver Hunting Grounds of the Haudenosaunee NANFAN Treaty of 1701; the McKee Treaty of 1790, the London Township Treaty of 1796, the Huron Tract Treaty of 1827, with the Anishinaabeg, and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum of the Anishnaabek and Haudenosaunee.

The three Indigenous Nations that are neighbours to London are the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation; Oneida Nation of the Thames; and the Munsee-Delaware Nation who all continue to live as sovereign Nations with individual and unique languages, cultures, and customs.