I find Victorian era funerary and mourning customs to be fascinating. From hair wreaths and mourning jewelry, to mourning wear and covering the mirrors and stopping the clocks, there is a certain romantic ritual to it all. The creepiest custom though, is the custom of photographing the dead.
When photography first became available in the late 1830s and early 1840s, it was very expensive and only the wealthy could afford it. For some families the only time they would splurge the money on a photograph, was in the unfortunate event of a family member's death. A child's death especially would be a reason, as infant mortality rates were high and for some it would be the only photo of their child.
As the technology became more affordable, post mortem photographs became more popular amongst all classes. Popular shots were the child with the mother, or made to look as if they were sleeping. Often they would paint open eyes on the photo and rosy cheeks, to make the child look more alive.
Some photos even have the deceased standing, held up by an elaborate stand, not much different then a doll's stand, to make the subject look as lively as possible.
While it may seem strange to us now, I'm sure for people then, having at least one memento of a loved one was a comfort. And it wasn't just for people either, below is a photo of a beloved family pet.
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