Mourning locket mystère

 

Victorian mourning jewelry is what originally got me interested in vintage jewelry. Whenever I find a special piece at the right price, I grab it up. Like this locket I found earlier this summer! The animal symbolism was lost on me so I asked Hayden Peters for some expert advice. Mr. Peters keeps the excellent blog Art of Mourning, where he does thoughtful posts about mourning jewelry, photos, funeralia and other sentimental objects. I also chatted with some other mourning jewelry aficionados and this is what I learned.

The Forget-Me-Not symbolizes remembrance. The dog stands for fidelity and loyalty, always waiting for its owner. The cat is a little bit tricky. One person suggested that cats symbolize resurrection and rebirth in some societies. If that's the case here, then what does it mean that the woman is holding the cat and walking away from the dog? What do you think this scene is all about?