Name/Title
BraceletEntry/Object ID
1978.41.2Description
Bracelet made of brunette braided hair clamped with rose gold mountings.Item Type
BraceletUse
Jewelry made from hair was commonly seen in the late 1800s. It would have been worn for mourning or as a memento. Regardless of the intention, hairwork pieces were incredibly personal. While locks of hair may have been clipped and added within brooches, or the hairs of many different people may have been artistically arranged within a frame, strands of hair could have also been braided or woven into wearable accessories as seen with this bracelet.Context
Mourning jewelry first gained popularity in 18th-century England during what is known as the "sentimental period," when objects with emotional and intimate value were highly prized. Hair was incorporated into mourning jewelry as it was seen as a powerful medium, symbolizing both the presence of the deceased and the passage of time. Mourning jewelry was particularly popularized during the reign of Queen Victoria, and by the 19th century, there was an entire industry of hairwork artists that transformed simple locks of hair into intricate designs and forms.Dimensions
Width
1-1/4 inLength
9-1/2 in
