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Hair Mourning Bracelet
Sentimental Hairwork Bracelet
Hair Mourning Bracelet
Hair Mourning Bracelet

Sentimental Hairwork Bracelet

Date1860 - 1900
Object NameBracelet
Mediumhair, wood
ClassificationsJewellery
DimensionsDiameter: 8.5cm
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDMS071997
About MeThis human hair bracelet is made up of eight tubes of plaited blonde hair. The bracelet fastens at one end with four thin plaits of brown hair. At the end of each plait is a wooden bead; two of which are covered in blonde hair and two are covered in brown. The hair seems to have been stiffened, possibly with a wax substance.

The notion of keeping a physical memento of a person, dead or alive, is thousands of years old. Using a lock of hair in a remembrance piece has been popular for many centuries. However, pieces of jewellery containing intricate patterns made from hair began to appear during the 17th century.

The craft of hairwork jewellery really took off in the 19th century as the fashion for sentimental jewellery grew.

Hairwork was more commonly worn as a love gesture but could also be worn for mourning if the hair used was that of the deceased.
More About Me
As the fashion for sentimental jewellery grew in the 19th century, hairwork was commonly worn as a love gesture but could also be worn for mourning if the hair used was that of the deceased.