Within the decorative arts realm, Black Victorians & Edwardians have long been absent from authentic representation—especially in antique jewelry references. Original jewelry catalogs and visual guides routinely excluded Black sitters, contributing to a broader Europeanization of antique imagery that left our Black ancestors overlooked, marginalized, and inaccurately portrayed.
Antique early 1900s Portrait of an Unidentified Dapper Black Man Wearing a Three Piece Suit & Prince Albert Chain. He Is Also Wearing a Horseshoe Stickpin and What Appears To Be a Fraternal Lodge or Benevolent Society Organization Membership Lapel Pin. Tanzy A. Ward Antique Photography Archives
Therefore, I am grateful and deeply honored to introduce my forthcoming book, Precious Black Jewels: The Bijou Material Culture of Black Victorians & Edwardians. As a Black antique dealer, I have long been captivated by the material-cultural elegance and inner dignity our ancestors embodied, even in the face of the caricatures that sought to misrepresent them. There is something profoundly moving about discovering a photographic stickpin or locket that holds the portrait of a Black ancestor. Though they embraced many of the same sentimental jewelry traditions of their era, their exquisite collections remain underrepresented and insufficiently researched. This work seeks to honor and illuminate their bijou legacy.
Antique 1890s-1905 Portrait of an Unidentified Elegant Black Lady Adorned in a Ribbon Corsage Brooch, & a Dark Satin Rosette featuring a paste square rhinestone buckle. She is dressed in an intricately designed high neck lace blouse & floral motifs. Tanzy A. Ward Antique Photography Archives
In Precious Black Jewels, I not only reference Black Victorians and Edwardians when discussing antique jewelry trends and identification, but the publication also serves as a homage to accurate Black Americana. Every photograph featured in this book is sourced from my personal archive, the Tanzy A. Ward Antique Photography Collection. The volume includes vivid, original antique portraits of Black Victorians adorned in a variety of jewelry pieces. Special emphasis is placed on photographic jewelry—brooches, pins, and other portrait pieces depicting Black ancestors—with an entire chapter devoted to memento jewelry and the symbolic ways Black communities honored their loved ones.
Antique Late 19th Century Memento Keepsake Photographic Brooch & Stickpin Featuring Unidentified Beautiful Black Victorians . The First Portrait Has An Intricately Twisted & Gold Filled Border. The Unidentified Portrait of a Black Man Is Secured Behind Glass. The Second Photo Features a Delicately Textured Oval Brass Frame with an Unidentified Black Woman Dressed in a High Collar Bodice. It Is Mounted on an Elongated Pin. The Portrait is Also Secured Behind Glass. Tanzy A. Ward Antique Photography Archives
I love and deeply appreciate how Black Victorians and Edwardians were just as diverse and individualized in their personal jewelry choices as anyone else. Some portraits reveal sitters wearing simple, understated designs, while others show individuals draped in layered accessories that reflect their distinctive aesthetic preferences. Regardless of style, each one displays an unparalleled sense of poise, elegance, and dignity that is truly awe-inspiring. Like their contemporaries, Black Victorians also wore symbolic pieces that expressed their beliefs, values, and personal sentiments.
Within the book, each chapter is dedicated to a specific jewelry style, and the elegant antique Black photography from my archives is used to illustrate these historical looks for accurate identification and reference. Lovely scarf pins, Prince Albert chains, watch fobs in various styles, intricately designed necklaces, and delicate earrings are among the antique jewelry forms featured in Precious Black Jewels. It is also an honor to showcase photographic pin designs—rare and deeply symbolic pieces of material culture that reflect the seldom-represented presence of Black memento and mourning jewelry. It would be remiss not to include chapters that emphasize the significance and preservation of the bijou material culture Black families used to honor loved ones and strengthen family bonds throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Antique c.1870-1890 Cabinet Card Portrait of an Unidentified Stylish Black Victorian Lady. She is Clothed In A High Lace Collar, Intricate Dress Trimming, and a Wool or Silk Black Gown. Her Layers of Jewelry Includes A Small Double Stranded Beaded Necklace, A Decorative Brooch That Possibly Features a Cabochon Stone or Cameo, A Carved Wood Cross Pendant, and Circular Drop Earrings That Are Possibly Made From Gemstones & Metal. The Digitally Added Jewelry is a Victorian Beaded French Jet Brooch & & Jet Bead Stretch Bracelet From the Zanathia Jewelry Collection. Portrait of Woman From the Tanzy A. Ward Antique Photography Archives
Antique 1880-1905 Portrait of an Unidentified Dapper Black Man Dressed in a Three Piece Wool Suit & Holding a Bowler or Derby Hat. He is Adorned With a Prince Albert Pocket Watch Chain Draped Across His Vest. Tanzy A. Ward Antique Photography Archives.
It is truly an honor to publish Precious Black Jewels. The material culture our ancestors left behind deserves to be preserved, studied, and thoughtfully represented. They are, after all, the precious Black jewels who paved the way.
Precious Black Jewels: The Bijou Material Culture of Black Victorians & Edwardians Is Scheduled to Be Released January 2026 & Additional Release Info Will Be Revealed Soon.