Weeping heart

[Woody Morgan]

I see this on many accoutrements including the marvelous possibles bag I got from Mr. Cutfingers.
What does it mean and some of its history? I did a quick net search and really didn't come up with much.
Thanks for any knowledge shared!

wm

 

[deerstalkert]

i have heard some people say it isn't a heart at all historically, but in fact is a Linden leaf. the Linden was a protected in old Europe. I just found this.
Linden trees have a special place in symbolism (sacred tree, the tree that is a symbol of love, fertility, prosperity, fidelity, friendship, peace, justice, altruism, good luck) and also in the popular traditions due to the positive aspects (healing trees, protective trees, trees that are keeping away the diseases and the evil spirits).
the symbol of the Linden was the leaf.
like the shamrock it was carried in traditions to the new world.
or so i have heard

 

[necchi]

Thanks for any knowledge shared!

Sure. Don't worry too much about it. Others understand, sometimes too well.
You may figure it out with just a little more life experience, and if ya make proper choices, we all hope you never know what that universally used symbol has meant for the last thousand yrs or so.
It's no more complicated than that.

 

[Woody Morgan]

Sure. Don't worry too much about it. Others understand, sometimes too well.
You may figure it out with just a little more life experience, and if ya make proper choices, we all hope you never know what that universally used symbol has meant for the last thousand yrs or so.
It's no more complicated than that.

Gawd. A little more life experience?? I'm lucky to have survived the last 66 years. Seriously.

wm

 

[Rifleman1776]

What does it mean and some of its history?

This is an often asked question. The weeping heart seems to appear in many places over a long period of time. It's exact origin and meaning are highly debatable. Meaning, if you want it, go ahead and use it. There is nobody who can prove you 'ain't authentic'.

 

[necchi]

Gawd. A little more life experience?? I'm lucky to have survived the last 66 years. Seriously.

Ok,ok,,
You must have lived right the whole time to have never known heart ache,,

 

[deermanok]

I've read that it symbolizes the fifth wound of Christ.
If the weeping heart is mounted on the wrist of a rifle by the shooters hand, it will bring good luck for the hunt.

 

[Walkingeagle]

I’ve always thought it was for luck on the hunt.
Walk

 

[Robby]

I think it has to do with country music, maybe soap opera's, not sure.
Robby

 

[tenngun]

This is an often asked question. The weeping heart seems to appear in many places over a long period of time. It's exact origin and meaning are highly debatable. Meaning, if you want it, go ahead and use it. There is nobody who can prove you 'ain't authentic'.

Exactly, the symbol goes back at least to the dark ages. Maybe Iron Age. Pick your story.

 

[Woody Morgan]

Ok,ok,,
You must have lived right the whole time to have never known heart ache,,

Well, yeah, but Karma likes me. All good.

wm

 

[toot]

I've read that it symbolizes the fifth wound of Christ.
If the weeping heart is mounted on the wrist of a rifle by the shooters hand, it will bring good luck for the hunt.

it didn't bring a good day to CHRIST.

 

[toot]

i have heard some people say it isn't a heart at all historically, but in fact is a Linden leaf. the Linden was a protected in old Europe. I just found this.
Linden trees have a special place in symbolism (sacred tree, the tree that is a symbol of love, fertility, prosperity, fidelity, friendship, peace, justice, altruism, good luck) and also in the popular traditions due to the positive aspects (healing trees, protective trees, trees that are keeping away the diseases and the evil spirits).
the symbol of the Linden was the leaf.
like the shamrock it was carried in traditions to the new world.
or so i have heard

is it the same as a 4 leaf clover? what makes it so special??

 

[Brokennock]

it didn't bring a good day to CHRIST.

Sure it did. It fulfilled his mission.... and became a good day for the rest of us.

But that is probably too far down a "forbidden" road for thus forum.

Thing is "weeping hearts" and hearts of all shapes and sizes were very common decorations from long before our periods of interest until shortly after cartridge arms took over. I'm not sure why they became less common as a general decoration. Previously they had been used on all sorts of gear, clothing accessories, and furniture, regardless of the owner/user's gender.
A heart of some type is pretty much one of the very few almost "can't go wrong with it" decoration for the muzzleloading era. Almost anything else will most likely have other cultural or ethnic/religious connotations.

 

[toot]

I agree with you.

 

[Mad L]

I see this on many accoutrements including the marvelous possibles bag I got from Mr. Cutfingers.
What does it mean and some of its history? I did a quick net search and really didn't come up with much.
Thanks for any knowledge shared!

wm

Try searching for "Luckenbooth Brooch"
that seems to be the best historical documentation I ever came up with. A lot of other searches just led me to 'stories' and 'folklore' but some time back I began searching off a Trade Silver site that called the weeping heart shape a 'Luckenbooth'.
Appears mostly to have Scottish history but I think some also mentioned Irish.

I favor this as my last name is German but my middle name is Scottish.

 

[Mad L]

Here is one of the bookmarks I have:

https://www.patriotrelics.com/colonial-best-finds-1700s-luckenbooth-trade-silver