Here is an antique jewel from France which is original to say the least: Hair Jewelry. The desire to keep a precious souvenir of loved ones, living or dead, is at the origin of the use of hair for the manufacture of various objects such as: jewels, belts, fans, buttons, embroideries, tableaus, paintings. Fashion has for a time favored the use of hair. It was made at the end of the 18th century and throughout the 19th century, both by ladies and by talented artists.
The hair trade was established during the fairs and markets of all regions, where women such as servants, driven by need, had their hair cut in all regions: Poitou, Auvergne, Artois, the Pyrenees, Limousin, Vendée, Normandy and Brittany. The transactions were made in Paris, but it was in Limoges and Beaucaire, during Saint Jean's day, that the prices were established between brokers and wholesalers.
The hair was a form of relic, sometimes cut from childhood, offered by a loved one or taken from a deceased relative... The hair being imperishable, was for a long time kept preciously on jewels. This infatuation for the work of the hair leaves place to various kinds of jewels: the jewel of feeling most often in the form of earrings, ring, necklace, medallion or bracelet and the jewel of mourning in the form of a brooch or a pendant commonly engraved on the back of the date of birth and death of the person.
The peak of this fashion exploded during the Romantic period. An era that coincides perfectly with this jewel loaded with sentiment, love and romance.
The craftsmen start to work the hair to create real jewels at the request of the customers. The techniques used to make these are those of weaving and trimmings. It is thus on spindles or tiles of lacemakers that the jewels take shape. Little by little the creations are enriched with pearls and enamels.
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