Vigo County Historical Society
Historical Treasure Article

April 25, 1993
By Tim Weir and Cindy Weir
Vigo County Historical Society

Victorians saved almost everything

Fine thread, copper wire, scissors, beads (both glass and metal), combs, brushes, weights, boiling water, soda and--most important--hair.

Sounds like an odd combination, but these are the ingredients for making hair jewelry and wreaths. The Victorians, such a sentimental people, saved and used everything.

It is said that Queen Victoria had her children’s baby teeth made into a bracelet that she proudly wore. She said she couldn’t bear to have them thrown away because it would be like throwing away part of the child.

From a time like this, it is no wonder that a young lady would not only want to give a lock of her hair to her young love going off to war, but that she would braid it into a watch chain for him. This would make him think of her each time he looked at his watch.

Beginning in the 1850s, Parlor Arts, as they are known, became very important for ladies of refinement. Knitting, crocheting, Berlinwork, shell and waxwork were much practiced. Along with these, hairbraiding or hairwork also was popular. Hairwork came to the United States and England from Germany where it was very fashionable.

The December 18850 issue of “Godey’s Lady’s Book” states: “By acquiring knowledge of this art, ladies will be themselves enabled to manufacture the hair of beloved friends and relatives into the bracelets, chains, rings, earrings and devices and thus insure that they do actually wear the mementos they prize and not a fabric substituted for it, as we fear has sometimes been the case.”

According to the Godey article, the preparation of the hair was the most important step. First the hair was boiled in soda water for 15 minutes. Then it was sorted by length in strands of 20 to 30 hairs. The hair then had weights added t it so it would not tangle while being worked.

Then the plaiting could begin. The hair could be braided into either square or round braids. Once this was done, it was sent off to a jeweler to have gold or gold-filled mounts added. Sometimes these included real precious stones. Sometimes even miniature paintings were added to a bracelet.

What a fitting way to remember a deceased loved one--use their painting and their hair in a piece of jewelry. Many times hair was cut from the head of a dead person immediately before burial.

A lady who didn’t trust her own ability in braiding might send her hair to a jeweler in New York or London to have it made into jewelry.

Some companies specialized in hairwork. At the Crystal Palace Exposition of 1853, a full-sized tea set made entirely of hair was exhibited.

Some hairwork was made of horse hair. It was coarser and much easier to work, but the finished product wasn’t nearly so delicate.

Hair was of great value during Victorian times. Each spring, hair buyers from Germany and France visited fairs and festivals throughout Europe buying and trading ribbons, combs and trinkets for the hair of young girls. This hair was made into artificial ringlets, plaits, beards, mustaches and jewelry.

Along with hair jewelry, there were wonderful wreaths, or mourning wreaths. Shadowboxed and framed, these works hung in many formal parlors in Victorian homes.

Usually, the hair was braided and wrapped around fine copper wire forming leaves, flowers and tendrils. Many times these flowers, found in any hair color, had gold or glass beads in their centers.

Sometimes hair wreaths are found with tiny markers naming the person from whom the hair had come. At times, numbers or letters were used to refer to a list of names. A small label might give not only the name, but also the dates of birth and death.

The historical treasure for this week includes a wreath, earrings and a chain. They are displayed in a glass case in an upstairs hallway.

Next time you comb your hair, think of the young ladies who took their hair or that of a loved one and made these ever-lasting ever-loving mementos.

The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.


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