c. 1870

Hairwork Wreath

The custom of mourning lost loved ones has evolved over time. Until the end of the nineteenth century it was traditional to keep the hair of a deceased loved one as a remembrance. During the later part of the Victorian Era it was customary to save the hair of deceased family and close friends and weave it into a mourning wreath that would then be displayed in the home. The wreath could be made up of the hair of one family member or a composite of the entire family. The hair was fashioned into flowers and leaves by twisting and sewing around shaped wire forms, telling the history of the family much like a family tree does today. This is why it is common to see hair of different colors and textures in the wreath. The hair of the most recently deceased was usually placed in the center of the U-shaped wreath, leaving the top open to allow for ascent into Heaven. The center of this wreath had the initials "MJR" for Mary J. Rose who died in 1872; it was finished by her husband James.