Antique Jewelry, Sentimental Hair Brooch made of hair from at least 4 different people

Peggy McClard Antiques

Americana & Folk Art

Back to Sentimental & Mourning Jewelry

Mourning jewelry was popular by the 17th century used to memorialize the death of loved ones. Queen Victoria began her reign as a romantic, passionate young woman who loved jewelry and promoted the wearing of it by commissioning jewelers to design and make her pieces based on the latest fashions. In 1861, the forty-two year old queen was devastated by the death of her mother and then her beloved husband, Prince Albert. Queen Victoria remained in mourning for the rest of her life but found an outlet for her pain by commissioning mourning jewelry in memory of her late husband. The rest of the world followed suit by seeking out and commissioning mourning jewelry to memorialize their lost loved ones. Hair jewelry became popular as both memorials for the dead and sentimental jewelry representing love, friendship or remembrance. Both men and women wore portraits of their spouse or betrothed, backed by the loved one's hair. Men, especially, wore bracelets woven from their loved one's hair and ended with gold clasps bearing ornamented hair. Women wore portrait bracelets made of either hair or beads and pearls. Women also wore brooches and rings A cottage industry was born in both England and America in which jewelers hired women and young girls to weave hair into bracelets and necklaces and work elaborate hair designs for brooches and bracelet clasps.

This is a lovely large sentimental brooch with elaborate hair ornamentation made of hair from at least 4 different people. Possibly made for a mother with hair of her children and husband, this beautiful pin shows that hair jewelry wasn't only for mourning. This one appears to have a similar sentiment to the "mother's rings" of the 20th century. The brooch is further ornamented by gold-colored filigree and 5 seed pearls. There is a little filigree missing at 1 o'clock and 2:30. The glue behind the missing filigree left a green stain to the backing which actually looks like leaf designs. 2" x 2 1/4", gilt metal, original clasp and pin. It also has a loop for wearing as a pendant.

(#1855) $485 Sale Price $295