Vigo County Historical Society
Historical Treasure Article
February 28, 1988
By Jan Buffington
Vigo County Historical Society
Victorian art could be hairy matter
Many people have become interested in the Victorian Era. Some have purchased and restored Victorian homes, often finding authentic exterior paint colors, draperies, period wallpapers, antique hearth tiles and powder-room fixtures. Some are trying such crafts as preserving or quilting, but the ability to do the hair work done by the Victorians has become a lost art.
Hair was considered a symbol of eternity for the Victorians because it appears to continue to grow after death. The 19th century’s preoccupation with death can be explained by the fact that life cycles--birth, illness and death--took place within the home. During that period, society had strict mourning rituals that governed everyday life right down to apparel.
The use of hair as an art material was especially appealing to the Victorians because it is strong, flexible, versatile and natural. Hair was collected daily in a hair receiver and also was taken from deceased family members. It was then braided, woven, twisted or curled into designs. It also could be rolled into little curlicues, wrapped into silky hands, or teased to resemble spidery little flower buds.
Hair work can be found in a few pieces of delicate jewelry from the 18th century, but it was most popular from the 1840s to the 1880s. A large percent of the hair art was a small lock of hair from the dearly departed which was braided or curled and then encased in a small piece of jewelry such as a locket or ring. Sometimes enough would be made to be passed out to those who attended the funeral. As the craft evolved, larger and more intricate pieces of jewelry and fragile works of art encased in shadowboxes were made.
Some shadowboxes contained hair art in the design of hearts or wreaths made of flowers. Others contained scenes from nature or a family tree.
Each flower for a heart or wreath took skill, patience and dedication on the part of the craftsperson. Sometimes an artist would made each flower from the hair saved from a different person in the family. One’s entire family history could be displayed in one of these unique heirlooms.
A shadowbox “mourning” wreath is the historical treasure of the week. It is a wreath surrounding a cross, with a small wreath draped over the cross.
This work of art was made by Alma Louise Denny Modesitt, who was born in a log cabin in Vigo County due west of Lafayette Road (Stop 18). Born Sept. 19, 1850, she was the eldest child of William Harrison Denny and Luna Louisa Ballou. She married George Modesitt and died Sept. 22, 1950, at the age of 100 years, three days.
The shadowbox hair work was donated by her niece, Bertha Phillips Reeder. The work is displayed in the Victorian parlor in the museum. Other hair wreaths in the museum’s collection range from a single large wreath to a wreath surrounding photographs.
Hair-worked wreaths, pictures and parlor decor are becoming increasingly hard to find. When people throw away the hair work, the lose a beautiful piece of rare art, and a record of family history.
The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.