Hair jewellery

Hairwork, or jewelry made of human hair has appeared throughout the history of craft work. Hair has often played a part in myths and legends; in a Swedish book of proverbs one can read that “rings and bracelets of hair increase love” (Vadstena stads tankebok). In Denmark at Rosensborg’s palace there is a bracelet of precious metal with a simple braided lock of hair, a gift from King Christian IV (1577-1648) to his queen. During the following century memorial hair jewellery remained common. For example, rings commemorating the execution of King Charles I of England (1600-1649) circulated among his faithful supporters. Other famous people who owned hair jewellery include Napoleon, Admiral Nelson, Queen Victoria and her large family, Christina Nilsson and Jenny Lind.

A 19th-century hair brooch, in the collection of The Children's Museum of Indianapolis

Victorian Period

The continued popularity of jewelry crafted with human hair can be attributed to several causes. Practically, unlike many other natural materials, human hair does not decay with the passing of time. Hair has chemical qualities that cause it to last for hundreds, possibly thousands, of years. Additionally, by the 19th century many hair artists and wig makers had too little employment after the powdered wigs, often worn by noblemen of the 17th and 18th centuries, went out of fashion. The period of sentimentality, characteristic of the Victorian era, offered these craftsmen a new opportunity to earn their income working with hair. Early hair jewellery was usually made in cooperation with goldsmiths producing beautiful and expensive creations of hair mounted in gold and often decorated with pearls or precious stones. Pieces constructed with precious materials by artisans were naturally very expensive.

Workshops where these fashionable items were made existed across Europe. Buyers of human hair traveled the countryside and purchased hair from poor peasants, sometimes in exchange for a scarf, ribbon or other small luxury object. In addition to the needs for hair jewellery, there was still a need for great amounts of hair for braids and switches that women wanted to purchase for their coiffeurs. Most hair jewellery, however, was made from a person of special interest's hair, whether that was a famous figure or a family member or friend.

In contrast to the expensive pieces of hair jewellery crafted by artisans, many women of the 19th century began crafting their own hairwork in their homes. In America, popular magazines of the period, like Godey's Lady's Book, printed patterns and offered starter kits with the necessary tools for sale. Book of the period, like Mark Cambell's Self-Instructor in the Art of Hair Work offered full volumes devoted to hairwork and other "fancywork," as predominately female crafts were known at the time.^[1]

In Europe various groups of women also took up the craft in their homes. The women of Mora, Sweden, became experienced in hairwork and made it possible for groups other than the very wealthy to afford hair jewellery. They had no money to buy expensive findings so they mounted the jewellery with wooden beads that they cleverly covered over with hair.

Another reason for the construction of hair jewellery in the home was a lack of trust in commercial manufacturers.^[2] The concern was that the hair used in the jewellery would not be the hair that had been given to the jeweller, having been substituted with other hair.^[2]

Modern Period

Though hairwork had gone out of fashion more than a half century earlier around Europe, the people of Våmhus (where much hair work was created) began to realize what a treasure the knowledge of the trade was. The local historical society introduced classes in hair work and new generations of women learned the art. In Våmhus hair art has been done continuously for almost 200 years.

In 1994 the Hairworkers Society was founded by the most active hair workers. Together they have done many shows, exhibits and projects. Similarly, the Victorian Hairwork Society also offers a space for members to share their art, identify historical pieces, and request work to be crafted online.^[3]

References

1. Cambell, Mark. "Self-Instructor in the Art of Hair Work: Dressing Hair, Making Curls, Switches, Braids, and Hair Jewelry of Every Description." New York: Self Published, 1867. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/38658/38658-h/38658-h.htm
2. Wall, Josie (19 Jan 2015). "Mourning Jewellery:Remembering the Dearly Departed". birmingham museums. Birmingham Museums. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
3. Victorian Hairwork Society. http://www.hairworksociety.org/