Tightly Woven Hair Jewelry

Hair Bracelet with Crystal Locket Clasp, 1850's-60's (71.181)

This bracelet also has a locket clasp, but the locket is empty. Either the picture is missing or this locket once held a lock of hair. The locket is decorated with an ornate gold clasp with a simply faceted rock crystal stone. This clear stone was probably chosen because it looks like a diamond. Along with gold and jet, diamonds were acceptable jewelry materials for women past the early stages of mourning dress. While this bracelet is similar in construction to the other locket bracelets in the collection, the differences in weave design indicate that there were many patterns for the weaver to choose from.

<---Back* * *--->Next

back to virtual exhibits | back to Hair Jewelry