This piece of jewelry is as fascinating today as when it was made in the late 1800s.
Intricate braiding and weaving of human hair became fashionable in the mid to late 1800s -the Victorian era.
The watch chain shows that jewelry pieces were not made just for women.
Endearments of love, hair weaving became a common parlor activity along with crocheting and knitting in Victorian times.
It was common for mothers to have a brooch containing the hair of their children . Have you ever wondered why baby albums have a place for a lock of hair? This is a vestige of the ornate practice almost lost after the turn of the 20th century.
But often, the jewelry was made as a reminder of the loved one when separated due to war or death.
Some people kept hair albums. This one belongs to Marlys Fladeland. Hair from loved ones would be intricately braided and kept in book form. Typically, when married, husband and wives hair would be braided together.
All pictures shown represent human hair work, you can still find artists today working with human and horse hair.
Other endearments preceding hairwork included the "lovers eye" jewelry. This piece is modern made by artist Tabitha Vevers.
Endearments ...reminders of someone removed by time or distance made into works of art. Both lover's eyes and hairwork were worn close to the heart for sentimental reasons. These pieces are the results of art and passion intertwined just as the strands of hair were intertwined to make intimate endearments. What endearments do you have that have been handed down through your family?
