By Marilyn Turk
When I was doing research for my next book, Rekindled Light, I toured the historic district of Pensacola, Florida. One of the houses I visited was the 1871 home built by Clara Barkley Dorr. Mrs. Dorr was a wealthy widow with four surviving children of five when she moved into the home in 1872. The well-built, two-story home boasted stylish décor of the Victorian period.
One of the more interesting artifacts I saw was the collection of hair art displayed in shadow boxes in the foyer. This art was designed by Mrs. Dorr composed of hair from her children, both living and dead, and maybe also from her deceased husband.
Creepy as that seems to me, hair art was common during the Victorian age. Even though the practice had been around for hundreds of years, the Victorians were responsible for turning this form of mourning into an art form.
Hair could also be fashioned into flowers and leaves by twisting and sewing it around wire forms, or into three-dimensional sculptures that were covered by glass domes and placed on parlor tables.
In addition to wreaths, hair jewelry was popular. Bracelets, rings, brooches, watch fobs and buttons were also fashioned from hair as a way to carry a part of your loved one with you.
Godey’s Lady’s Book offered patterns and instructions for shaping and creating hair wreaths. Instructions for detailed works were also available in the 1867 book, Instructor in the Art of Hair Work. In the early 1900’s, even the Sears and Roebuck Catalog sold hair jewelry.
Have you ever heard of or seen hair art? What do think about it? How would you like to get some hair art for Christmas?
Stay tuned for the release of Rekindled Light, which has a character who practices hair art.
Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of my latest release, Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides Romance collection!
Multi-published author Marilyn Turk calls herself a “literary archaeologist,” because she loves to discover stories hidden in history. Her World War II novel, The Gilded Curse, won a Silver Scroll award. When readers asked what happened to the characters after the book, Marilyn wrote the sequel, Shadowed by a Spy. Her four-book Coastal Lights Legacy series—Rebel Light, Revealing Light, Redeeming Light, and Rekindled Light—feature Florida lighthouse settings. In addition, Marilyn’s novella, The Wrong Survivor, is in the Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides collection. Marilyn has also written a book of devotions called Lighthouse Devotions. Marilyn also writes for the Daily Guideposts Devotions book.
Fascinating post, Marilyn. I'd heard of hair art, but didn't know much about it. Thanks for sharing. Not sure I'd want to receive any as a gift!
ReplyDeleteHi Linda, Thanks for your comment. I don't think I'd want any either, honestly.
DeleteI have heard of this and seen it in some museums! Kind of creepy to me. Thanks for the chance to win the book. Merry Christmas! bcrug(at)twc(dot)com
ReplyDeleteHey Connie. I agree. It does seem king of creepy.
DeleteI saw some hair art in a museum in Ft. Smith, Arkansas. I found it rather creepy, but morbidly interesting. In the same area, they had pictures of children, taken after they'd died. That really added to the creepiness.
ReplyDeleteOh Vickie, You're so right! The hair art is one thing, but pictures of dead children, often posed, are just morbid!
DeleteI have never seen such a thing! But I have enough hair and seen to always be finding it everywhere, that I could probably make some hair 'art'.
ReplyDeleteHey Patty, How funny! Now you know what to do with all your hair!
DeleteAfter doing much family history genealogy, I do not find it creepy at all, rather comforting...I cut some of my mother's hair before she was buried and have it tucked away. So, although she is gone, I have something physically from her.
ReplyDeleteHi Karen. I can see keeping it, but would you display it? Just curious.
DeleteI have heard of the Victorian practice of hair art. It is fascinating the things that were common place and acceptable back in the Victorian days but are though of as strange and unacceptable now. It's just like us now with the things that are acceptable now to some, like rainbow colored hair,piercings, etc that years from now others may find strange. Fads and fashions come and go so there is always something fascinating to look forward to. Thank you for the fascinating post.
ReplyDeleteHi Deanne. Yes, you're right. Even our children think some of the things we used to do or styles we wore were strange.
ReplyDeleteHey Marilyn. I've heard of the Victorian practice of hair art. It's fascinating. Not sure that I would want to wear it myself.
ReplyDeletepsalm103and138atgmaildotcom
Hi Caryl. Thanks for commenting. Merry Christmas!
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