Mourning Earrings
Manufacturer / Maker
unidentified
Dateca. 1800 - 1900
Mediumhuman hair, metal
Dimensions2 5/16 × 5/8 × 1/4 in. (5.9 × 1.6 × 0.6 cm)
ClassificationsJewelry & Adornment
Credit LineAlbuquerque Museum, gift of Dr. and Mrs. Patrick Phelan
Object numberPC1975.68.16.B
DescriptionScrew back post earrings made of auburn brown human hair and metal. The hair is crocheted around an interior form, likely wire. The hair and wire is formed into a decorative knot, dangling below the ear. The earrings come with a hair and wire knotted brooch. They all live in a box together with "Elizabeth's" handwritten in cursive on the lid.
In the Victorian period, it was common practice to create mementoes of a deceased loved one's hair to commemorate the dead in a form of respect and grieving. These often took the form of jewelry or framed art, with braided and layered hair arranged around a photograph and encased in a frame under glass. Over time, jewelry made of human hair became a fashion trend and their creation was seen as an acceptable female past time.
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