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Hair Wreaths and Jewelry

Hair has always been an interesting topic in lore and legends. It has been suggested that hair has supernatural powers as a continuation of the physical body after death. The legend of Samson claimed that the warrior drew his strength from his hair. There have been accounts throughout history of people’s loved ones growing hair after death. Hair is the part of the body that is easily changeable, and can be publicly admired because it is not deemed as an embarrassing part of the body. The peak of popularity for hair jewelry was during the Victorian era. It was at this time that women wore their hair long, symbolizing their femininity. They would often create mementos for their loved ones out of their long hair. Perhaps the most famous endorsement came from Queen Victoria herself. After the death of Prince Albert in 1861, Queen Victoria went into a deep state of mourning until her own death. She began wearing rings, brooches, and bracelets made from his hair. Queen Victoria gave jewelry made from her own hair as sentimental tokens to her children. The fad caught on, spreading to the United States. In the U.S the jewelry was extremely popular during the Civil War. There was even a profitable industry of booklets and magazines with patterns instructing women how to make different pieces. As women began to bob their hair in the 1920s, the trend lost popularity. Today, the MSU Museum allows visitors to take a glimpse of the past with a wide variety of jewelry made from hair dating back to the Victorian era.

Donors and Fieldworkers

Val Berryman, Chamberlain Memorial Museum, Mrs. Ed V. Mears, Mrs. Daryl Wines, Sandy and Gordon Walter

Exhibitions

Victorian Hair Jewelry, Collections Connections Gallery, MSU Museum, November 2010.

Set of two woven human hair bracelets, 19th cen.