During the victorian era, mourning jewelry represented an outward display of an individuals inner feelings of loss. People went to great lenghts to create elaborate pieces, such as this unique gutta-percha link necklace.  Gutta-percha, a tropical tree that produces a dark sap, was commonly used in jewelry.  Because of its dark color and easily malleable properties, gutta-percha sap could be molded into beads and other shapes, as well as carved to create elaborate designs.   

We came across this early victorian gutta-percha necklace and thought it was too cool not to share! The necklace is pictured with a civil war era daguerreotype that is also made of gutta-percha.  One image is of a deceased confederate soldier, while the other is an image of his mother holding the daguerreotype box.