Victorian hair jewelry: bracelets and rings woven from the dead
Victorian hair jewelry was a sentimental practice where locks of hair were woven into bracelets and rings. This tradition allowed people to carry a physical reminder of loved ones, especially during the mourning period. While it may seem eerie today, these pieces represented deep emotional connections and were often exchanged as tokens of affection.
- ▪Victorian hair jewelry was considered deeply sentimental and romantic during its time.
- ▪Locks of hair were treated as lasting keepsakes that didn't decay like flowers or paper.
- ▪Many pieces were created after the death of a loved one, reflecting the mourning customs of the Victorian era.
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Victorian hair jewelry: bracelets and rings woven from the dead Popkin 9:29 am Wed May 20, 2026 Mourning jewelry, mid-19th century, American, gold, glass, hair, Gift of Miriam W. Coletti, 1993 (Object Number: 1993.423.16) Victorian hair jewelry, like the ones in these photos, was one of those old traditions that feels both beautiful and maybe a little eerie today. At the time, though, it was considered deeply sentimental and romantic. Hair didn't decay the way flowers or paper did, so it became a lasting keepsake people could carry with them for years. A lock of hair from a spouse, child, parent, or close friend was treated almost like a physical extension of that person.
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