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A
COLLECTOR’S
STORY
Comments from the
former owner of the pieces in this wonderful collection
My obsession with hair jewelry started innocently
about 35 years ago. I had stopped at a neighbor’s antique shop to
pick up an item she was contributing to our school’s PTA raffle.
She offered to show me a ring she had purchased that
morning. It was a beautifully ornate gold ring with initials "G.L." and
engraved in the inside of the ring band with the date “Dec.25 1869". I
couldn’t believe my eyes! Then I saw that it had two very tiny
hinges and either side of the band opened to reveal the most daintily
braiding of blonde hair filling the inside of the band. I loved it
immediately, admiring the sentiment and the workmanship! I begged to
purchase it and thus began my years of searching for hair jewelry. For
the next, 30 years I explored every antique show and shop I could find
in every city and state that I was in.
I have owned around 350 items of hair jewelry and
about 50 framed hair wreaths and hair artwork.
I have had many “favorite pieces” over the years,
usually whichever one was my latest “find”. I have always been very
partial to the pieces that are engraved with initials, messages and
dates. The dates were especially endearing, telling a small history of
the item. I also felt that someone went that little extra mile in actually
having the item engraved.
One piece that has always been special to be is an
oval brooch I found in an antique shop in Victoria, British Columbia
many years ago. I have always been fascinated by how old these pieces
are and in such wonderful shape with their amazing workmanship. This
brooch has a picture of a large tree made with “hair dustings” that
seems to have a rural setting with a wooden fence in hair surrounding
it. My thought is that it represents the family tree. On the back of
the brooch there are 9 separate initials and the date 26 May 1790.
Amazing that this lovely brooch is well over 200 years old, from the Georgian
era.
My favorite piece? It is the oldest piece I have,
dated 1790.
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FRAMED HAIR
ART MEMORIALS & MOURNING Pieces
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VICTORIAN memorial hair art work framed in a dark brown frame with gold
inner frame with a light green background. The hair bouquet has a lovely variety
of various styles and colors and a wide variety of different methods of making
flowers and leaves. Frame measures 12” by 10” and 3-1/2" deep.
View
View
View #V38215
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VICTORIAN French hair memorial art work in an ebonized black oval
frame with convex glass. There are dark brown braids at the bottom with
flowers and leaves. The name of the owner of the hair, “Eugiene Eviard”’
is written in script at the top. The frame is 51/2” by 41/2”. There is
writing in French on the back of the frame.
View
View #V38216 |
VICTORIAN memorial hair art work in a French Ebonized frame with convex
glass, frame measures 91/2” by 11”. Exquisite and one of the best/most
intriguing hair art wreath. Dark brown braids curl all around the outside of
the hair picture with floral sprays intermingled. Hair is in excellent
condition #211.
View
View #V38217
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VICTORIAN mourning memorial hair art work in a French ebonized oval
frame containing hair art in the form of a weeping willow tree within a
wreath, flowers and leaves. There is a star at the top. The frame
measures 71/4” by 81/2”.
View All 3
View #V38213
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VICTORIAN-Edwardian French framed mourning hair art work that tells
a story of a mother’s love for her daughter, who has passed away. Her
name was Marie Terese Renee Lombard and she died in Béziers, the 15
Avril 1915 in her 11th year. The photograph shows her in what looks like
her first communion dress, similar to a wedding dress. It is framed in
an ebonized oval frame with convex glass and contains thin strips of
paper on which the story is hand written in French. Among other things,
it says, "In memory of my beloved daughter… torn from my tender love
at Béziers, the 15 Avril 1915 in her 11th year… God has asked from me
what is most precious to me and I have given it to him."
View
View
View
View
View
View #V38233
About Beziers:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%A9ziers |
VICTORIAN memorial hair mourning wreath in an oval black ebonized
frame with convex glass, provenance included. The frame measures 8” by
91/2”. This is an unusual design with hair flowers in a basket
surrounded by a hair wreath and accented with glass beads. Notes on the
back are included and they describe the history of this piece
commemorating the DeFraix family including Marguerite, Therese, Camille,
Louis, Jeacques, Andre and Pierre.
View
View
View
View #V38214
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VICTORIAN mourning or memorial hair art, a bouquet of flowers of all shapes,
sizes and color framed in shadow box frame. There is a gray green ribbon at base
of the corsage. The designs are interspersed with black, blue, red, brown and
silver beading. The work is wonderfully delicate and precise. The shadow boxed
frame measures 143/4” by 123/4” and 5" deep.
View
View #V38212
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Photo of the paperwork that came with #V38214.
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VICTORIAN woven hair oval framed hair work under convex glass, floral hair
and scroll art work.
View #V38193
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Photo to show the relative size of these pieces. |
VICTORIAN woven hair framed art work with a mourning wreath in a
lovely
octagonal wood frame with black and gold liners. Inside the frame are
two photographs surrounded by woven hair flowers, leaves, and designs.
View #V38192 |
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Brooch
groups
to show relative size
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Victorian hair brooches with enameling. |
Victorian brooch in the center surrounded by lace pins. |
Victorian hair plume brooches. |
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Georgian and Victorian lace pins. |
Victorian hair plume brooches. |
Victorian hair brooches, some for mourning. |
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VICTORIAN woven hair jewelry 10 karat yellow gold harp charm with white
woven hair, 7/8" by 5/8", excellent condition. Similar pieces can
also be seen in the book, "Warman’s Jewelry" 2nd Edition by Christie Romero on
page 26, and she dates them from 1870-1880.
View #V38109
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This is an 1870 Catalog page showing fobs and charms.
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VICTORIAN 9
carat gold and woven
human hair jewelry binoculars charm, 3/4" by 3/4". It is in excellent
condition in every way. This style can be seen in the 1870 A Bernhardt Catalogue of hair jewelry
HERE.
It is in amazing excellent condition, a dainty treasure.
View #V38108 |
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VICTORIAN 14 karat yellow gold and woven blonde hair child’s hinged bangle
bracelet with pierced Greek key design with woven hair underneath, engraved
inside "GLF". The bracelet is 5-1/4" wearable size and 1/3" wide. The
total weight is about 10.43 grams. There are two tiny places missing a bit of
hair, visible only under magnification and hard to see even then, and there
loops for a safety chain but no chain is with it.
View
View
View #V38071
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VICTORIAN woven hair bracelet in open tubular weave with mother-of-pearl and
coral hand charm or fob, bracelet 6-1/4" by 1/4", fob 1".
View
View #V38070
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VICTORIAN
pre-Civil-War woven brown hair bracelet with locket front clasp holding braided
blonde hair; "MJL 1845" engraved on the back; fittings gold filled and measures
6" by 1/2". The tiny bird charm marked "14K" is newer than the bracelet. A
similar bracelet is in the A. Bernard & Co 1870 Catalogue.
View
View
View View #V38073 |
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VICTORIAN brown woven hair bracelet with flat woven band, 5-7/8" and
about 1/3" wide. The clasp has a glass covered locket for hair of 5/8" by 1/2", but no
hair is in it now. There is a bit of hair fraying on the outer parts of the band so
it is priced accordingly.
View
View #V38095 |
VICTORIAN rare medium and dark brown woven hair 7-strand bracelet with lovely
oval fossil clasp, 6-1/3" with a 2" by 1-1/4" clasp. I think the
stone is called "brain coral".
View
View
View
View
View #V38102
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VICTORIAN brown woven hair bracelet with a flat intricately woven
band and a catch with a red faceted garnet and 9ct gold fittings
(tested), 5-7/8" wearable size and about 5/8" wide. There are a few tiny
flea bites on the red stone and some edge wear on the band. The bracelet
is a child’s or small woman’s size.
View
View #V38101 |
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VICTORIAN Swedish style brown woven hair bracelet with slide
closure, lacy woven band and hair wrapped dangle balls, almost no loose
hairs so amazing for it’s age, 6-1/4" at the smallest, opens to 8-1/2"
at the largest and about 1-1/8" wide.
View
View #V38099 |
Bernhard 1870 Catalogue of
Victorian hair jewelry
View |
VICTORIAN brown
woven hair bracelet with 9 strands of open weaving and a lovely woven front
design, as is, 7" by 1-1/8", at least 3 strands have breaks in them, so
this is priced as is. A jpg of an 1870 Catalogue showing a similar
bracelet can be seen here
View.
View
View
View #V38103 |
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VICTORIAN woven brown hair bracelet with gold filled fittings with engraved
scrolls and an open cartouche, 6-1/3" by 1", a few loose hairs and a loose
edging. Shown
HERE, just for reference, is a jpg of a page from the 1870 Bernard & Co.
Catalogue, showing several fittings for hair bracelets. Similar pieces can also
be seen in the book, "Warman’s Jewelry" 2nd Edition by Christie Romero on page
25.
View
View #V38072
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VICTORIAN
woven brown hair bracelet with gold tone metal fittings etched with
scrolling leaves and the initials "SHW", and a safety chain, 6-1/8" by
7/8". This is gilt silver or vermeil. Shown
HERE, just for reference, is a jpg of a page from the 1870 Bernard &
Co. Catalogue, showing several fittings for hair bracelets.
View #V38074
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VICTORIAN brown woven hair watch chain or bracelet with engraved initials
and date "DW 1867", so this was made just after the Civil War. It is 7-1/2" by
5/8", the perfect size to wear as a bracelet on a 7" wrist. The engraving is on
one side of the center element and it is faint but definitely there.
View
View #V38094 $140.00
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VICTORIAN brown woven hair bracelet with 4 tubular strands, woven
center and dangles. All three dangles have loose hairs, so this is sold
as is. The size is about 6-5/8" by about 1" wide, and the bracelet has
some elasticity. A bracelet in this style can be seen in the
wonderful big book, "25,000 Years of Jewelry" on page 268, where they
say it is mid-1800s German.
View
View #V38098 $46.00 |
VICTORIAN brown woven hair bracelet with 6 round strands accented by yellow
gold findings, engraved "LT Trevitt" on the back, extra large sized 9-1/3"
wearable size (does not open) by 1" at the back of the band.
View
View
View
View #V38104
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VICTORIAN blonde hair ring set in 9 carat yellow gold, hallmarked inside for
Chester, 9 375 (for 9 carat gold) and the letter "H" for 1908, size 7-1/2 and with a 3/16" wide band and an open
cartouche on the front for initials. Under a 10k loupe you can see that the hair under the
openings on both sides of the cartouche has unraveled a bit, though still present.
View
View
View #V38076 |
VICTORIAN 9 ct yellow gold and black enamel memorial hair ring with
cross motif and seed pearls, engraved inside the band, "H.O.",
it seems to have
every hair in place. It is hallmarked for 9 ct, Chester, England, maker
"WGM", and the date letter a capital "I" which is hard to distinguish
and could be either 1805 or 1827, or perhaps even 1892. It is size 6-1/2 and
1/3" at the front where it is widest. Amazing condition for an antique
ring.
View
View
View #V38007 |
VICTORIAN 9 carat and brown woven hair ring with the initials "JSH"
on the front 9 carat yellow gold cartouche, size 8-3/4 and the hair band it
3/16" wide. Marked "9ct" on the back.
View
View #V38075
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VICTORIAN 18 karat yellow gold ring with a brunette woven hair band and gold
center with blue enamel, wonderful condition with no hair damage which is rare
at this age, a larger size 12-1/2" so it could have been worn by either a man or
woman.
View #V38115 |
VICTORIAN hair
ring with a tiny beveled glass covered center housing a tiny braid of
hair, size 7 and 1/3" along the finger.
View #V38117 |
VICTORIAN
9 carat and woven hair ring with the initials "PM" engraved on the front. This
is in just wonderful condition except where someone did a scratch test on the
back for gold content, size 4-1/2 and 3/16" wide band.
View #V38116 |
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VICTORIAN ring with shades of brown hair under a curved crystal, size 8 and
3/4" along the finger.
View
View #V38114
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VICTORIAN hair ring with seed pearl surrounding the oval beveled glass
covered hair compartment, size 5-1/4 and the front is 7/8" by 5/8". This was
once, probably in the early 1800s, a lace pin and was converted into a ring with
a 14 karat yellow gold band marked inside with "14k", a maker’s mark, and on the
back partially obscured letters, part of which says "Ilene" . Where the band
meets the front, looking from the back of the ring, the fitting is heart-shaped,
a secret romantic touch. The top of this ring tests as 10K gold and the
replacement band is 14K gold. This weights 6.9 grams but part of that weight is
the lead solder replacement on the back.
View
View #V38077 |
VICTORIAN 9
carat yellow gold heart and ivy leaf and hair memorial ring, hallmarked for
Chester 1890 and 9 ct gold, size 8 and about 1/3" front and 3/16" back, with
vintage box. The heart stands for love and the ivy leaf for eternity. The box is
the same age as the ring, but there isn’t a way to determine whether or not it
is original to it.
View
View
View
View #V37931 |
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VICTORIAN rare 15k yellow gold locket necklace with coral beads and
urn-shaped charms. It is a wearable size of 13-1/2", or choker length,
with a 1" front drop, from top loop to bottom. The center drop has a
tiny covered hair compartment on the back, just amazing. It weighs about
.69 ounces in total.
View View
#V38112 |
VICTORIAN woven hair pendant with a man’s photo ( he wears a fancy
stick pin) the initials "ECH" on one side and "MP" on the other, a small
curl on the back, 1-3/4" by 1-1/2".
View #V38119
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VICTORIAN necklace with locket on a Georgian chain. There are the initials "KML"
on one side and a cross with seed pearls set in black enamel on the front.
Inside is a photo of a lady, a bit worn, along with a hair curl plume with seed
pearls. The chain is 13-3/4" wearable length and about 3/16", and each little
link is faceted and assembled as a box chain. I suspect the brass clasp is an
early replacement.
View
View
View #V38113
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VICTORIAN woven hair jewelry cross pendant with 15 karat yellow gold tips,
2-1/3" by 2".
View
View #V38118
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VICTORIAN woven hair pendant with 4 colors of hair and 4 different
weave designs under a crystal, amazingly done. This was a brooch that
has been converted to a pendant long ago, pendant 1-5/8" by 1-1/3",
chain 20".
View
View #V38120 |
VICTORIAN hand woven brown hair necklace and watch key charm or fob,
necklace of a long open tubes with gold tone wires that tie off about every
5/8" to create this lovely delicate design with gold tone metal fittings,
total length 27", key winder 1-1/3". The condition is amazing for a delicate
piece of this age, circa 1860, with almost no hair loss or damage and the catch works
perfectly.
View #V38067 |
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VICTORIAN woven hair memorial jewelry brooch with a single plume of brown
hair accented with seed pearls and gold wire covered by beveled glass, 2" by
1-1/2". Circa early 1800’s.
View #V38185
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VICTORIAN woven hair jewelry swivel brooch with blonde and brunette plumes
with seed bead and wire accents set under glass on one side and an open
compartment covered with glass on the back, 2-1/8" by 1-3/4".
View #V38147 |
VICTORIAN woven hair swivel brooch with blonde graduating to brown
hair plumes accented with seed pearls and gold wire under glass in a
gold cathedral-like design with fleur-de-lis setting which swivels to
another glass covered compartment for a photo, which is empty now. This
is early 1800s and is 2-1/8" by 2", and the frame shows light wear.
View #V38158 |
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VICTORIAN woven hair swivel brooch with a really charming photo of a young
girl wearing a hat like a cake with flowers on top, and the back having woven
blonde hair, 2" by 1-5/8". The unusual crossed pins on the back are meant, for
the shorter one, to hold the case in place, and for the longer one, to fasten
the brooch to cloth. Both pin backs have been reinforced and there are little
specs on both sides.
View #V38172
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VICTORIAN woven hair and portrait swivel brooch with portrait front
of a gorgeous lady dressed as a gypsy, 2-1/3" by 2-1/8". The
back glass covered compartment houses lovely blond hair work and the
brooch swivels to be worn with either side facing out. The portrait is
hand painted and has a scratch or two, but nothing that detracts from
this wonderful piece. These portraits were often done in Germany and
imported to other countries to be made into jewelry.
View #V38143 |
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VICTORIAN hair
brooch and earrings with both blonde and brown hair in open woven balls or
berries set in gold
leaves and fittings, 4 of the balls have hair that is coming unwoven on the
brooch, brooch 2" by 1-3/4", earrings with a ball on one earring unraveling,
1-1/2" total length from the top of the loop to the very bottom of the earrings.
The findings here are a mixture of 10k and brass.
A similar design can be seen
VIEW
in the wonderful vintage "A. Bernard & Co" catalogue dated 1870, click
HERE for
more.
A similar piece with berries can also be seen in the
book, "Warman’s Jewelry" 2nd Edition by Christie Romero on page 25, and she
dates it to 1850-1870.
View
View
View
View #V38075 |
VICTORIAN acorn hair brooch woven with brown hair set into 14 karat
yellow gold fittings, the brooch engraved on the back "MAP 1858" and
1-7/8" by 2-1/8". The
brooch is a tubular weave and had gold leaf accents. These were made
just before the Civil War. A similar design can be seen
VIEW in the wonderful vintage "A. Bernard & Co" catalogue dated
1870, click
HERE
for more.
View
View
View #V38078 |
VICTORIAN acorn hair earrings woven with brown hair and set into 14
karat yellow gold fittings with black accent beads. The total length of earrings is 2-1/3" from the top of the loops
when it goes into the ear hole to the very bottom. At the acorn bottom of one
earring the hair is loosening but only very slightly.
A similar design can be seen
VIEW
in the wonderful vintage "A. Bernard & Co" catalogue dated 1870, click
HERE for
more. #V38078 |
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GEORGIAN 10 karat yellow gold oval woven hair brooch with a seed
pearls and blue enamel surround and gold initials inside "MMCD", all in
a wonderful eye-shaped brooch, a shape very typical of that era, 1-5/8"
by 1". The pin back was professionally replaced and/or reinforced at
some point in the past. Tests 10k gold and is circa 1790 to 1800.
View #V38081 |
VICTORIAN 14k blonde hair bow bow brooch with garnet cabochons set in
bloomed 14
karat yellow gold, 2-1/2" by 3-1/8". Not only is the bow delicately
hand made of hair, but the dangling heart has a tiny hair enclosure on the back as well.
The details on this are lovely! The gold at the center
of the bow is beautifully engraved with roses and leaves. The gold has a lovely
bloomed gold finish. See Bell’s "Collecting Victorian Jewelry" page 149.
View
#V38080 |
VICTORIAN hair brooch with both blonde and light brown hair curls decorated
with gilt wire and seed pearls, some of which has fallen to the bottom, 2-1/8"
by 1-7/8". This has a loop for a
chain so it can be worn as a pendant. #V38082
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VICTORIAN woven hair jewelry brooch with gold front engraved, "To Our
Mother", and the back engraved, "To Our Mother from her Husband and Children",
2-1/3" by 2-1/3". Also dangling from a bow are a woven cross, anchor and heart
symbolizing "Faith or love, hope and charity. The brooch is in excellent vintage
condition, amazing for the age of this piece. Even the hair has no holes.
View
View #V38125
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VICTORIAN woven
hair jewelry bow brooch with brown bow and two oval ball dangles, engraved with
the initials, "SFP", as is with hair breaks in the top right loop and one of the
acorns, 1-3/4" by 1-1/3". For some reason, this photographs looking as though
the dangling balls are lighter in color than they really are in person. Similar
pieces can also be seen in the book, "Warman’s Jewelry" 2nd Edition by Christie
Romero on page 25.
View
View #V38122 |
VICTORIAN woven hair earrings with light brown hair woven into
dangling acorns with 14k yellow gold fittings. The 2 acorns on one
earring are pulling away from the top caps. These are 2-1/2" from the
top of the hoop to the bottom of the acorn. On one earring there is a
hook to slide the loop under, but it is missing on the other earring.
They are still perfectly wearable without it though.
View
View
View
View #V38121 |
VICTORIAN woven hair bow brooch with braided ties in an infinity design and
3 hair-covered elongated balls and a flower center, only a few slightly loose
hairs, 2-1/2" by 2-1/3".
View
View
View #V38123
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VICTORIAN woven hair jewelry "Georgie" brooch with blond fine hair
like a child’s on a mother-of-pearl background, flowers leaves and a
single seed pearl decorate the inside which is covered with beveled glass,
1-1/2" by 1/1/4". The brooch has an outer border of a black enamel Greek key
pattern on gold. The back has been dented inward a bit, about the size of a
thumbprint, visible only from the back. The
pin back has been reinforced and it comes with a safety stick pin and chain,
stickpin 1-1/2".
View
View #V38130
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VICTORIAN woven
hair bow brooch with dangling acorns, 9 carat gold center and fittings,
open cartouche in the center. There is a bit of loose hair at the top of
one of the acorns where it meets the cup, 1-5/8" by 1-5/8".
Similar pieces can also be seen in the book, "Warman’s Jewelry" 2nd Edition by
Christie Romero on page 25.
View
View #V38124 |
VICTORIAN woven hair jewelry brooch with "Father" in hair art work
on the front, painted onto an opalescent surface, surrounded by open
woven ovals around it. The lovely frame and leaves are gold tone. There is slight
hair loss under the glass and at the very top of the piece. Six gold
leaves top off this lovely design, and this pin is 1-1/3" by
1-1/8".
View
View #V38131 |
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VICTORIAN woven hair jewelry brooch with blonde and light brown curled and
braided hair under a beveled glass topped compartment, 1-1/8" by 1".
View #V38162
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VICTORIAN woven hair jewelry brooch with pale blond hair in an
unusual woven design, engraved on the back, "Joseph Symes RN, obt 27th
Jany 1856, at 69", with black enamel accents, a brooch with a pendant
loop on the back, 2-1/4" by 2".
View #V38155
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VICTORIAN 9 carat eye shaped brooch or pendant in a yellow gold setting
surrounded with clear pastes around the beveled glass hair compartment. It has a
beaded edging, and even the back is engraved with
flowers and scrolls. It has a loop for a chain to wear as a pendant, 1-1/4" by
3/4". The clear pastes are squares
with rounded edges, perhaps cushion cut, and they are not foiled. Be sure
to look at the back photo because the back has a wonderful etched
design, as pretty as the front. The whole pin has a beaded outer edge. On the back is a loop so this could be
worn as a pendant as well as a pin. The detail on this wonderful piece is just amazing,
and it is in excellent condition.
View #V38152 |
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VICTORIAN woven hair jewelry brooch with light brown and gray woven under a
beveled glass cover and surrounded with a gold with black enamel brooch,
engraved on the back, "In Memory of GS, ED, CS", with a loop for a chain on the
back, 1-1/3" by 1-1/8".
View #V38153 |
VICTORIAN woven hair jewelry brooch with a brilliant emerald green
enamel on gold frame, lovely and unusual, set in gold scrolls, circa
mid-1800s, 2" by 1-5/8". Under a 5x loupe you can see a very tiny spot
of enamel damage, all but impossible to find. Someone in the past
scratched the back of the brooch as can be seen in the photos, and the
back also has a small dimple in the metal.
View #V38133 |
VICTORIAN hair brooch with black glass or onyx and seed pearls
surround, engraved on the back, "Teresa Feb. 25th, 1855", 1-1/3" by
1-1/8".
View #V38084 |
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VICTORIAN woven hair jewelry round banded agate brooch with surrounding
ivory beads in an gold tone metal applied wire setting with a brunette woven
hair locket back, 1-1/2" .
View
View #V38129
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VICTORIAN woven
hair jewelry brooch in a pinwheel shape surrounded by balls with 2
dangling acorns, amazing open balls and acorns accented with gilt silver
leaves, pendant loop for a chain on the top, 1-5/8" by 2-1/2".
View #V38128 |
VICTORIAN sterling hair brooch with back compartment which holds a wad of
hair and is covered with a plastic cover, 1-1/2". It is hallmarked on the back
for England sterling, 1885__ & Co (maker’s mark not legible). This has a
radiating design with a trefoil beaded edge.
View #V38132
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VICTORIAN woven hair jewelry brooch with finely basket woven blonde hair
under beveled glass in a yellow gold setting with white enamel, 1-1/4" by1".
View #V38134
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VICTORIAN 10 karat yellow gold and woven hair jewelry brooch with
rare hair flowers under a domed glass cover set in gold, a 1-5/8" by
1-1/4" oval. The flowers really are wonderful and the setting is extra
deep in order to house them. Because the glass cover is domed, it
magnifies the flowers in a lovely way. It has a place on the back
where someone tested it for gold content. The pin back has been
reinforced and there are very shallow bent areas on the back.
View #V38140 |
VICTORIAN 9 carat yellow gold woven hair locket brooch with a center star
of diamonds ? and rubies and surrounded by applied wire work leaves and designs,
1-3/4" by 5/8". The locket back houses pale yellow backing for hair, but
contains no hair now. It is marked "9ct".
View #V38135
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VICTORIAN woven hair jewelry brooch with brown woven hair under
beveled glass inside a sea shell shaped locket brooch, so unusual, 1-1/4" by
1-1/8". This wonderful piece opens like a jewelry box or a treasure chest.
View
View #V38157
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VICTORIAN
hair brooch with blonde, light brown and white hair curled and braided inside
and a black enamel surround and with a reinforced pin back, a little treat
at 1-1/2" by 1-1/8".
View #V38087 |
VICTORIAN woven hair jewelry brooch with a hinged lid which covers an open
and fairly deep glass covered compartment with nothing in it, 1-1/2" by 1". The
back is dented inward a little bit and the pin back has been reinforced.
View #V38161
|
|
VICTORIAN woven hair jewelry brooch with a back hair compartment, 1-1/3" by
1". The green and clear paste flowers set in black enamel on gold. The back is
engraved, "Will M Poole ob 29 April 1844 a 21" and "John Acton ob 11 June 1844 a
30". The hair compartment holds two shades of brown hair.
View #V38170
|
VICTORIAN woven hair jewelry brooch with blonde and brown haired
plumes surrounded by seed pearls (one broken) under beveled glass,
engraved on the back "Abagail Baxter", with a safety stick pin with
crown top, brooch dented in the back, 1-1/4" by 1", stick pin 1-1/2".
View #V38167 |
VICTORIAN woven hair jewelry brooch with a hair locket on the back. This
elongated oval brooch has a onyx or black glass centered with a star of gold and
seed pearls and with a gold beaded edge, 1-7/8" by 5/8". On the back is a plume
of black hair on one side and gray hair on the other, with gilt wire twist
accents.
View #V38168
|
|
VICTORIAN hair jewelry stick pin with four green paste stones at the corners
and 16 seed pearls around the center crystal, pin 2-5/8" and top 3/4" by 1/2".
The hair is straight blonde hair under a beveled crystal. One of the tiny pearls
has the top chipped off, hard to see without magnification. The top of this
stickpin was once a small brooch, and this was converted many years ago.
View #V38106
|
VICTORIAN hair jewelry stick pin with
lucky horseshoe dangling from it, stick pin
2-1/4" and horse shoe 5/8". The hair is in perfect condition,
which is amazing for it’s age. A similar piece can also be seen in the
book, "Warman’s Jewelry" 2nd Edition by Christie Romero on page 28,
where she dated it from 1880.
View #V38107 |
VICTORIAN hair jewelry stick pin with
the words "In Memory Of" in gold Old English lettering around the edge
of a beveled glass covered compartment, pin 2-1/2" and the tiny top is 1-2"
by 1/3". This is in good vintage condition with signs of wear on the finish
commiserate with age.
View #V38105 |
|
VICTORIAN woven hair bar brooch with two brunette twists set in gold tone
ends and center with a simple etched design, 2-1/8" by 1/4".
View #V38154
|
VICTORIAN Whitby jet and woven hair jewelry brooch with a hair
compartment on the back, 1-1/2". The jet is carved with "AEI" for
"Amity, Eternity and Infinity" and the back compartment houses a wispy
curl of blonde hair.
View #V38137
|
VICTORIAN woven hair jewelry bar brooch with an infinity knot made of
tubular woven brown hair with a gold leaf center and gold tips and back, 1-7/8"
by 1/3".
View #V38136
|
|
VICTORIAN hair brooch with both blonde and light brown hair plume decorated
with gilt wire and seed pearls, some of which has fallen to the bottom, 2-1/8"
by 1-7/8". This brooch has another photo or hair compartment on the back and
also has a loop for a chain so it can be wore as a pendant.
View #V38083
|
VICTORIAN woven hair swivel brooch with one side of black onyx or glass
(with tiny flea bites on the black edge, hard to see except with a loupe). It is
accented with a gold leaf and tiny flowers on the front, and the other side
with medium blonde hair swirl and reinforced pin back, 1-1/4" by 1". The
original pin back was replaced with a safety clasp some time in the past for
security, and while the clasp is shown open in the photo, it does close securely
as it should.
View #V38179
|
VICTORIAN Antebellum woven hair jewelry brooch with brown hair Prince of
Wales plume with seed pearls (as is) under glass cover, 1-7/8" by 1-5/8". The
setting is embellished with etched flowers and scrolls and has 4 fleur-de-lis
shaped elements at the sides. It is engraved on the back, "H. Stannard died 20th
June 1850, aged 30 years".
View #V38178
("Antebellum" means "prior to war", usually the Civil War)
|
|
VICTORIAN woven hair jewelry brooch with blonde curled hair under beveled
glass in a gold setting with morning glory flowers and leaves on each side,
engraved on the back, "Mrs GH Park", 1-3/4" by 1-1/2".
View
View #V38190
|
VICTORIAN woven hair jewelry brooch with a man’s photograph on one
side and an open compartment for hair on the other, 2-1/4" by 2". The
frame is decorated by etched and embossed scrolls and designs, but a
small part of it is missing.
View
View #V38151 |
VICTORIAN 14k
woven hair jewelry brooch with an elongated oval shape and woven ash
blonde hair, engraved, "USN 12/25-90" on the back, 1-3/4" by 5/8". Tests
as 14 karat yellow gold.
View #V38228 |
|
VICTORIAN woven hair jewelry brooch with "IMO" for the mourning message "In
Memory Of" and engraved "Mrs Smith" on the back, blond and brown woven hair in a
glass covered compartment on the front, 1-3/4" by 1-1/3", reinforced pin back.
View #V38142
ALL
|
VICTORIAN woven hair jewelry brooch with blond hair woven and placed under a
slightly domed glass cover. Surrounding that in black enamel are faded gold
letters with the message "In Memory Of", but they are not as faded as the photo
makes them look. The brooch is 1-1/3" by 1-1/8". The gold metal frame around the
words is bent here and there, as can be seen in the photo. There is also light
wear on the brooch front, visible only under magnification, and the back has
different colors on it, all metallic colors that can be seen in the photo.
View #V38189
|
VICTORIAN 1843
mourning woven hair jewelry brooch with "In Memory Of" on black enamel over gold
framing a photo of a lovely woman wearing a big hat under beveled glass. This is
engraved on the back, "Eleanor Bean obt 16th February 1843, at 21 years". It is
priced in "as is" condition with a cracked frame at the bottom center and a
pin back repair seen in the photo. It has a loop for a chain and is 1-5/8" by
1-1/2".
View
View #V38174
|
|
~
LACE
PINS
Small pins like
the
ones below are often referred to as "lace pins" in the older books
and catalogues. They were worn
not only by
women, using them to fasten lace around the collar, but also by men of
the Regency to Georgian era, those dapper men 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.
When I think of lace pins, I think of the smaller pieces, usually under
about one and one-half inch in any dimension.
|
|
VICTORIAN woven blonde hair lace brooch set in a gold pin with black enamel,
replaced pin back, 3/4" by 5/8", some dents on the back.
View
View #V38088
|
VICTORIAN 14k gold hair brooch with blonde and gray hair in a
braided curl inside and a black enameled double border, engraved on the
back, "M de F" Jan 23rd, 1864", 1-1/16", Under a 10x loupe you can see
in tiny bit of damage to 3-4 tiny cells of the enamel, but I mention
this only for accuracy. Tests as 14K gold with a silver catch.
View
View #V38089 |
VICTORIAN
hair brooch with ash blonde hair in a serpent motif brooch with seed pearls
surround with a green paste stone in the center, 1-1/8" by 3/4". The piece tests
as 10k gold. The snake or serpent has long been associated with eternity and
eternal love.
A similar piece with red stones can be seen on page 88 in the book "In Death
Lamented; the Tradition of Anglo-American Mourning Jewelry" by Sarah Nehama,
which was a companion volume to the Fall Exhibit at the Massachusetts Historical
Society 2012. There it is identified as English circa 1820.
View #V38090 |
|
VICTORIAN hair memorial pin with blond woven hair in a gold tone
setting. These little pins were also called "Lace pins" because they were
often worn on a piece of lace. This is 3/4" by 1/2" and has had the catch
replaced many years ago. It is otherwise in excellent condition and the
catch works securely.
View #V38184 |
VICTORIAN woven hair jewelry lace brooch with medium brown woven
hair in a beveled glass compartment set in gold embossed setting, a tiny
lace pin size at 7/8" by 3/4".
View #V38182 |
VICTORIAN woven hair jewelry memorial brooch with woven medium blonde hair
under a beveled glass cover and set in a embossed flowers frame followed by gold
and black enamel on gold borders, the extra long pin stem makes me think this is
early 1800s. This lace pin is a tiny 7/8" by 5/8". The only flaw is a very tiny
chip in the enamel hard to see without a loupe.
View #V38186 |
|
VICTORIAN woven hair jewelry brooch with dark blonde woven hair set in a
gold setting embossed with tiny designs, 7/8" by 3/4".
View #V38171
|
VICTORIAN woven hair small brooch with two colors of basket woven
hair under a beveled glass cover and surrounded by the gold and black
enamel, dents and replaced pin on the back so priced as is, 1-1/8" by
1".
View #V38164 |
VICTORIAN woven hair jewelry brooch with "In Memory Of" mourning message on
black enamel in gold, hair compartment holding blonde hair, 1" by 3/4".
View #V38165
|
|
VICTORIAN woven hair jewelry brooch with medium brown hair in a basket weave
set under slightly domed glass in a gold setting, a lace pin size at 1" by
5/8".
View #V38177
|
VICTORIAN woven hair jewelry brooch with brown hair in an open weave
with a spider-like twisted wire design, all set into gold with a loop
for a chain on the back so it can be worn as a pendant, 1" by 3/4".
View #V38149 |
VICTORIAN 14k woven hair jewelry brooch in gold with medium brown woven hair
under glass, initials "TH" engraved on the back, 7/8" by 5/8". No marks but
tests as 14k. A doll collector friend of mine loves these for her Victorian
dolls to wear because they are genuine in style but scaled down to doll size.
View #V38183
|
|
VICTORIAN tiny hair brooch with faceted black glass or onyx stones set in14
k gold, these were also called lace pins and could have been worn by men or
women, 1" by 3/4". This has no marks but tests as 14k gold.
View #V38091
|
VICTORIAN woven hair "My Dear Mother" brooch with woven blond hair
under a cracked glass cover which is topped with the swiveling black
enamel on gold message, circa early 1800s, 7/8" by 3/4". Around the
outer edge is the mourning message "In Memory Of".
View
View #V38138 |
VICTORIAN woven
hair jewelry brooch with dark brown woven hair in a triangular shaped
glass topped compartment set in gold with tiny onyx or black glass lacy
setting, tiny lace pin at 1-1/8" by 1". One black stone is chipped so
priced as is.
View #V38139 |
|
VICTORIAN woven hair jewelry lace pin with blonde and light brown curled and
braided hair under a beveled glass topped compartment, a small treasure at
1-1/8" by 1". Lace pins, so called because they were small pieces often worn on
a lacy ruff or collar, were worn by both men and women.
View #V38162
|
VICTORIAN woven
hair jewelry brooch with dark blonde woven hair under a beveled glass cover set
in gold, a tiny lace pin size at 1/2" by 1/3".
View #V38144 |
VICTORIAN hair brooch with blonde hair and gilt wire bows center and a
blonde braided surround in a belt and buckle motif, amazing detail for
such a delicate piece. It is 1-1/8" by 3/4". The is a crack in the metal
frame as can be seen in the photos. This is mid-Victorian circa 1850.
View #V38092 |
|
VICTORIAN woven hair jewelry brooch with braided and woven blond hair under
a beveled glass cover and a frame of black enamel on gold, 1-1/8" by 1". While
the front is lovely, there is a crack on the back, so this is priced as is.
View #V38159
|
VICTORIAN woven hair jewelry brooch with empty hair enclosure under a glass
cover and black enamel on gold, 1-1/2" by 1-1/4". This is as-is with flea bites
in both the glass cover and the black enamel, reinforced pin back.
View #V38160 |
VICTORIAN woven hair jewelry brooch with woven blond and light brown hair
under a beveled glass cover in an oval gold tone metal setting. It that has had
a repair on the back, replacing the pin mechanism at some time in the past, and
some discoloration on the back as can be seen in the photo. The size is 1-3/4"
by 1-1/4".
View #V38145
|
|
VICTORIAN woven
hair jewelry brooch with brown and pale blonde hair under a beveled glass set in
gold with a repaired pin back, 1-7/8" by 1-1/2".
View #V38169 |
VICTORIAN 9 carat gold and woven hair flower brooch with a leaf and
stem design in etched gold, a tiny lace pin size at 1-1/8".
View #V38181 |
VICTORIAN woven hair jewelry brooch with blonde plumes accented with gold
wire and seed pearls and set in gold with black enamel, engraved on the back,
"Albert Watson, died April 16th 1850 and Charles Warner died Aug 26th 1852",
loop on the back for a chain, 1-5/8" by 1/4". Here is a vintage photo showing a
lady wearing a similar brooch
HERE.
View #V38188
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|
|
|
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|
VICTORIAN woven hair jewelry brooch with brown woven hair under a beveled
glass cover set in gold and black enamel round lace pin, tiny at 3/4". While the
front is in excellent condition, there is a replaced pin back and dents on the
back, so priced accordingly.
View #V38187
|
VICTORIAN woven hair jewelry brooch with a blonde bow set in gold with a
beveled glass cover, a lace pin size at 7/8" by 3/4", simple but charming.
View #V38163
|
|
|
~
LORGNETTE &
WATCH CHAINS
& FOBS
|
|
VICTORIAN hand woven blonde hair watch chain with lion mount on one end and
a fob on the other. The total length is 13-3/4" without the fob and about 1/3"
wide. This amazing and extremely time consuming piece was made by braiding hair
together into a flat braid, then cutting and making links of that, and then
linking those to form the chain. This is in good condition with a very few loose
hairs, but one end of the metal fittings has a touch of solder on it. It does
have one link edge missing from the hair chain. On the fob end, the hook has a
clever fitting that screws on and off to close it.
View
View
View #V38064
|
VICTORIAN
hand woven brown hair watch chain with double chains, gold tone metal
fittings with etched designs and the initials "D. St" engraved, as is
with some loose hairs, total length is 15". 10k caps, link chain and bar
gold filled.
View
View
View #V38065
|
VICTORIAN woven hair watch chain with an oval faceted saphiret fob held by a
hand, dark brown hair in a spiral and tube weave with gold filled fittings, the
center one decorated by a seed pearl and a red cab with one cab missing. On the
center are the engraved initials "LJ". A saphiret is a rhinestone of flashing
brown-lavender-blue tones that was commonly used in both the Victorian era and
up to the mid-20th century. It is a very desirable stone, whether cut en
cabochon or faceted.
View
View
View #V38195
|
|
VICTORIAN woven hair watch chain with brown tubular woven hair, gold filled
fittings and a photo fob showing a sad but lovely lady on one side and a baby on
the other. The baby photo is cracked and the cap on one end is mashed, but the
hair is in excellent condition, 11-1/2" by 1/4".
View #V38196
|
VICTORIAN woven hair watch chain with brown hair in two weave
styles, one a box chain and one a spiral, gold fittings with leaf
designs on both ends, t-bar for a button hole on one end and hook on the
other, almost no loose hairs, 14" by 5/16".
View
View #V38197 |
VICTORIAN woven hair watch chain with dark blond hair in a tubular spiral
weave with gold tone fitting and a loop for a fob in the center, 12-1/2" by
5/16" and not a hair out of place.
View
View
View #V38198
|
|
LADY wearing gold earrings
and
a woven hair necklace with a photograph pendant. Carte de viste marked
"Robertson & Brooks, Franklin, KY." It confirms that women wore
these chains, not just men, just as they do today. |
VICTORIAN woven hair horseshoe charm on a black ribbon watch
ornament with the engraved initials "GF", horseshoe 1" and gold portion
1-1/2" wide. The ribbon is frayed but I left it on to show how this was
worn.
Similar things can be seen in the book of Jeanne Bell’s "Collector’s Encyclopedia of Hairwork Jewelry"
on page 120.
View #V38141 |
VICTORIAN gentleman
wearing a watch chain and fob. Cabinet card marked "E.M. Phillips, Fairburn,
Ills." View
|
|
VICTORIAN hand woven hair watch chain with twists of medium brown hair and
gold filled fittings, total length 11" and 5/16" wide. This is "as is" with a
few places where the hair is unraveling, and it is priced accordingly.
View
View
View e #V38058
|
VICTORIAN tubular hand woven hair watch chain with a gold filled
locket with the initials "CM" on the back and fittings for one photo
inside, an etched leaves and sunshine with rhinestones on the front. It
is a total length of 12" and 1/4" thick, the locket is 3/4". It is in
very good condition with only slight unraveled hairs here and there.
View
View
View
View #V38059 |
VICTORIAN hand woven hair long watch chain with dark blonde hair in two
woven strands, each with 2 styles of weaving, gold tone fittings, total length
17". There is a small etched flower on the center fitting, and there are hooks
at 2 ends for a watch, fob or charm and a bar on the end of the buttonhole.
View
View
View #V38060
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|
VICTORIAN woven hair watch chain with brown hair in two weave styles, one
open tubular and one spiral, both just amazing, 12". The findings are gold
filled with red and seed pearls accenting the center, from which two woven
acorns are suspended, each with hair pulling away from their caps and each 5/8"
long. There are loose hairs along the chain portion, but the weave is still
tight.
View
View
View
View #V38194
|
VICTORIAN antique woven hair watch chain with medium blond hair in a
tubular and spiral weave with gold fittings and a fob, 16" by 5/16".
There is an attached message that dates the chain to 1900, and it is so
nice that it has stayed with the piece all these years, giving it
provenance. The center has
one seed pearl and a red cabochon and the fob suspended from it is an
axe enameled in red, yellow and green on gold and has "MW and A" on it,
with a gavel and a log, 1" by 3/4". This is well woven with no hair loss
at all.
View
View
View #V38200
The hand written note with it says, "Mrs. Christine Munson has this chain made from her own hair, had it
mounted and presented it to her husband, Martin T Munson on his 40th
birthday, Jan. 23rd 1900. Presented to Miss Ruth Munson, Omaha 1930." |
VICTORIAN woven hair watch chain with brown hair in two strands and two
different weaves, gold fittings, 8-1/4" by 1/3". The hair is in excellent
condition with only a few loose hairs, and the fittings are gold tone metal. At
one end is a hand-made tag with the number "51388" on it. I wonder if that was a
mark of to whom the hair belonged, and that this would have been done by a
company or jewelry store, not at home.
View
View #V38201
|
|
VICTORIAN woven hair lorgnette slide chain ( also called a
"long chain") with sterling silver
fittings, 52" long. The word "sterling" is on the bottom of the hook
catch. Similar pieces can also be seen in the book, "Warman’s Jewelry"
2nd Edition by Christie Romero on page 26, and she dates them from
1870-1890.
View #V38207 |
VICTORIAN woven
hair lorgnette chain with silver slide and fittings, total length 34".
There are no marks on this, but the slides test as 9ct gold and the hook
is brass. Similar pieces can also be seen in the book, "Warman’s
Jewelry" 2nd Edition by Christie Romero on page 26, and she dates them
from 1870-1890.
View
View #V38206 |
VICTORIAN
hand woven brown hair lorgnette or long chain necklace in a braid within a chain
design with 10 karat yellow gold slide and fittings and gold filled hook and
chain, engraved "M or U and St, total length 54" and 1/4" wide.
Similar pieces can also be seen in the book, "Warman’s Jewelry" 2nd Edition by
Christie Romero on page 26, and she dates them from 1870-1890.
View
View #V38066 |
|
VICTORIAN woven hair watch chain with brown hair in two different weaves
with gold filled fittings, the center set with a seed pearl and two red
cabochons. The chain is 11-1/2" by 1/4" and the tiny fob, an open book, is 1/3"
across. The hook is marked, "Y&S". Fobs often denoted a man’s interests or work,
but an open book could mean many things, and I don’t know what this one stands
for. This is in excellent condition.
View
View
View #V38205
|
VICTORIAN woven
hair watch chain with brown braided hair, gold filled fittings and a
Greek key design of black enamel on gold on all three parts, a loop for
a fob to be added if desired, 13" by 5/16". The hair is in good
condition except for one end where it is softer and slightly
unraveling.
View
View
View #V38203 |
VICTORIAN woven hair watch chain with blond hair in two different spiral
weaves with gold filled fittings, all with black enamel work, and a loop for a
fob on the center, 14" by 5/16".
View
View
View #V38204
|
|
VICTORIAN hand woven hair watch chain with 3 woven braids in two designs,
etched designs on the two square end fittings, and watch hook on one end and a
to hold a fob on the other, 6" total length by 3/4" wide, all gold filled.
View #V38061
|
VICTORIAN hand woven hair watch chain with brown hair in a tubular
weave in 2 different patterns, gold filled fittings, total length is 14"
and 9/16" thick, areas with unraveling hair, and a fob of cream agate
(cracked) on one side and bloodstone on the other, fittings and 2 photos
inside, 1" by 3/4", swivels.
View
View
View #V38062 |
VICTORIAN hand woven hair gold filled watch chain with fob charm, tiny red
and pearl stones in gold tone fittings, 7-5/8" by 3/4". Note that the hair was
first braided into flat ribbons, then formed into links and then linked together
to form this amazing piece. There is light wear visible under a 10x loupe along
the edges of this piece.
View
View #V38063
|
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VICTORIAN woven hair watch chain with brown hair in two weave styles, one a
box chain and one a spiral, gold fittings with leaf designs on both ends, t-bar
for a button hole on one end and hook on the other, in excellent condition with
almost no loose hairs, 14" by 5/16". #V38281
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