Hairwork during the Victorian Period

• Hairwork flourished as a trade and private craft in mourning jewelry.
• Hairwork included lockets, rings, and bracelets with frames of loved ones' hair in braids, wreaths, or woven into floral patterns.
• Hairwork also depicted mourning scenes such as gravestones or willow trees.
• Hairwork was taught to young women and sometimes mixed with needlework.
• Wearing hair jewelry was seen as a form of carrying sentiments for the deceased.

Rise in mourning practices during the Victorian Period

• The Victorian Period saw a rise in mourning practices due to Queen Victoria's popularity.
• Hair jewelry became popular as a way to carry sentiments for the deceased.
• Human hair does not decay with time, making it a suitable material for hair jewelry.
• Hair artists and wig makers found new opportunities in the sentimentality of the Victorian era.
• Hair jewelry was initially made for the higher classes but became popular with the lower classes with the availability of instructional guides.

Craftsmanship in the home

• Women in the 19th century began crafting their own hairwork in their homes.
• Popular magazines and books offered patterns and instructions for hairwork.
• Women in Mora, Sweden, became skilled in hairwork and made it affordable for others.
• Some women crafted hair jewelry due to a lack of trust in commercial manufacturers.
• Advertisements by hair-working companies sometimes added to the suspicion of hair substitution.

Hairwork in the modern period

• In Våmhus, Sweden, hair art has been continuously practiced for almost 200 years.
• The Hairworkers Society and the Victorian Hairwork Society provide platforms for sharing and preserving hair art.
• Classes, shows, exhibits, and projects are organized by these societies.
• The knowledge of the hairwork trade is considered a treasure in Våmhus.
• Hairwork had gone out of fashion in Europe but was revived in Våmhus.

Long-term preservation of hairwork

• In Victorian and older pieces, the gum used to hold the hair and decorations in place has decayed over time.
• This decay can result in movement of the hair within the pieces.
• Preservation of hairwork requires proper handling and storage techniques.
• Restoration may be necessary to maintain the integrity of hairwork.
• Preservation methods should be employed to prevent further deterioration.

Hair jewellery Data Sources

Reference	URL
Glossary	https://harryandcojewellery.com.au/blogs/glossary/hair-jewellery
Wikipedia	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hair_jewellery
Wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q145013
Knowledge Graph	https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/02rf9xn