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Whether fashioned by a home crafter professionally by a hair weaver or a jewelry maker, hair jewelry was the height of the romanticism and sentiment that characterized the Victorian era. Some pieces were done as mourning pieces or "momento mori" ("remember you must die").Â

While some may find this morbid, for the Victorians death was a common and accepted part of everyday life especially due to the higher infant mortality rate of the time and the devastation of the Civil War.
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Hair jewelry was not always mourning jewelry, however, as it was also crafted as love tokens from sweethearts, family members and cherished friends. Rings might be engraved with loving messages and memorials either on the face or inside the band, and might also have hidden compartments for the hair.

Brooches came in all sizes from the daintiest lace pin to a larger 3" oval meant to be worn at the neck. Watch chains and bracelets often show the most ingenious hair weaving techniques with more than one color of hair often used, as perhaps in a watch chain given by three daughters to their father.

To purchase some of this historic jewelry, please click HERE.

There were many different pieces made, and to see our Gallery of them you can click HERE.

We also have a vintage 1870 Bernhard catalogue of this jewelry HERE, and it is such fun to browse.

Small pins like these are often referred to as "lace pins". They were worn not only by women, using them to fasten lace around the collar, but also by men of the Regency era... those who wore velvet jackets, lace-trimmed shirts with ruffles, make-up, wigs and high heels. Examples of this style of dress can be seen HERE.

Memorial rings were given both in friendship and in memory. Often made to distribute at funerals, they were also given to family and friends for occasions other than death. These tiny treasures sometimes have bands made of woven hair, but they can also have small compartments for hair in them, too.

To BUY these for your own collection, please CLICK HERE.

http://www.morninggloryjewelry.com/