Feb 10, 2025 · Uncover the unique Victorian custom of hair wreaths: from their historical significance in the 19th century to their modern appeal as collector's items.

Jun 20, 2014 · Hair jewelry allowed Victorians to carry a part of their loved ones with them in the form of bracelets, rings, brooches, watch fobs, even buttons: It was similar to putting a piece of hair in a locket. Hair from a deceased family member was usually made into a mourning wreath for remembrance.

Hairwork, or jewelry or artwork made of human hair, has appeared throughout the history of craft work, particularly to be used for private worship or mourning. From the Middle Ages through the early twentieth century, memorial hair jewelry remained common.

Wreaths could be formed into horseshoe-shapes, a Victorian symbol of good luck, with the open end facing up to catch the luck. The resultant wreath was mounted on a silk or velvet background and placed in a fancy shadow box frame. Many of the …

Hair wreaths were popular in the Victorian Era, around the mid to late 1800’s. They were usually crafted by women using hair from friends and family members. They could be a way to mourn the dead by turning a remnant of someone into a lasting memorial.

Apr 23, 2024 · Hair wreaths in the Victorian era were part of a broader tradition of mourning culture. They commemorated the dead and were often displayed in homes as a symbol of respect and remembrance. The practice highlighted the Victorian fascination with death and the afterlife.

Oct 20, 2021 · Hair art has its “roots” in the 17th and 18th century when it was used to reflect the high infant mortality rates of the time. However, it became more popular in the Victorian Era, 1837-1901, following the death of Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Consort Albert.

Hair art made to specifically memorialize and remember their loved ones, like these, serve as a reminder of death and mortality. Learn more about this social custom from the late 1800s and including how and why this hair wreath and bouquet were created.

Jun 4, 2015 · Victorian hair wreaths were actually an art form that took the hair from deceased family members and friends and wove it into a wreath that could be hung in the home as a memento. And, these hair wreaths were just the beginning.

Oct 26, 2024 · Once people died, a piece of their hair was collected and would be included in a family wreath. Hair wreaths were constructed almost entirely of human hair, which was manipulated to resemble a variety of flowers, floral sprigs, and leaves.