RARE Victorian Immortelle Loose popular Flowers Dove Anchor Pieces As Shown 1900s. Grave Decoration Funeral Remembrance.
****NOTE- the final image is to illustrate what these pieces are used for-the dome is NOT INCLUDED-this listing is for the loose pieces ONLY!!*****
Stunning pieces, these were originally made for inclusion in an Immortelle. Immortelles – the name means everlasting – were grave ornaments. They were in used mainly in the Victorian and Edwardian era.
Delicate china flowers are mounted on a base. This is covered with a glass dome to make it weather proof and finally a wire cage houses that.
An immortelle is a long-lasting flower arrangement placed on graves in cemeteries.
In some cases, they were embedded into the grave itself (e.g. on the concrete over the grave) while others were merely placed on or by the grave.
They were purchased from undertakers.
These are very hard to find. I was very fortunate some years ago to purchase a number of entire Immortelles as well as loose pieces from an antique funeral home...I am absolutely fascinated by Immortelle's, and do not take lightly the symbolism that is included in each one. I have been researching these pieces for years, and each and every one was unique, with symbols to represent the deceased included in their design. The choice of flower style had a different meaning, as per the Victorian tradition, flowers had very symbolic meanings for different occasions, for example, while an Anchor represented to the Early Christians, (who often had to hide their faith to avoid persecution) a disguised cross, and as a marker to guide the way to secret meeting places. A Christian symbol of hope, it is found as funerary symbolism in the art of the catacombs. Often set amongst rocks. It can also be an occupational symbol in sea-faring areas or the attribute of Saint Nicholas, patron saint of seamen, symbolised hope and steadfastness. An anchor with a broken chain stands for the cessation of life. A Dove is a last tribute to the soul of your dearly departed. For centuries, doves have symbolized the Holy Spirit, love, peace, hope, and the soul. Study of different Immortelles can give such beautiful hidden messages if you know how to look at them and go way beyond just a pretty arrangement under glass.
The pieces are all made from porcelain and are fragile beauties. They have been gently cleaned, however no cleaning product was used only water. I prefer to leave them in natural state. The patina is natural and as it has been , some pieces are slightly chipped, though still retain such beauty. There is paint flaking off the metal leaves, but some remains to show the white colour.
As a guide to sizes, the Anchor is 13cm across, The Dove 11cm across, The largest rose is 11cm across,the smalles flowers are 2cm popular across.
All are very rare. Very beautiful.
****NOTE- the final image is to illustrate what these pieces are used for-the dome is NOT INCLUDED-this listing is for the loose pieces ONLY!!*****
This piece would be the centrepiece of your cemetery collection.