We Have A Winner by a Hair!

Donnell didn't REALLY win "by a hair", but I just couldn't resist writing that (ha ha)

Donnell said...
Is it hair? The Victorians used to braid hair into decorative pieces.
June 11, 2008 12:56 AM

and then she added . . .

Donnell said...
I wanted to add to my previous comment. I think it's human hair made into a mourning wreath.
June 11, 2008 2:07 AM

Congratulations Donnell! You were the first person to comment with the correct answer. Please e-mail me with your snail mail address and I will rush your Tim Holtz Junk Bag off to you this week. In your e-mail, include some of the artsy things you like so I'll know what you are into. OR, if you have a blog or website, you could just direct me there and I can figure it out myself (smiles).

Following is a little history on this Victorian art form:

During the Victorian era, the custom of making art from hair became popular as a form of artistic memorial. It was used in jewelry, love tokens and hair wreathes, the latter of which could encompass hair from the members of one’s church, school, and family.



Below is an example of a hair picture made to hang on the wall as an ornamental decoration.
They are made entirely of hair, and maybe with an embellishment of cultured pearls or seeds. The pictures are usually somewhat small in size, many of them being around 6" or so in diameter. This particular picture is 5 x 7



To make a hair wreath, hair was collected from the deceased, formed into a shape (usually a flower), and added to a horseshoe-shaped wreath. The top was not connected and remained open to symbolize the ascent heavenward. Usually, the hair in the center of the wreath belonged to the most recently deceased family member; it would remain until another family member died, then be pushed aside to make room for the hair of the newly deceased.

Thanks to everyone that stopped by to play!

1 comment:

Very Mary said...

HAIR?! Wow, I thought I was resourceful.