Bracelet thumbnail 1
Bracelet thumbnail 2
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images
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Jewellery, Rooms 91 to 93 mezzanine, The William and Judith Bollinger Gallery

Bracelet

1830-50 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The Victorians continued the custom of using hair jewellery in gifts of love and remembrance. Queen Victoria both wore and gave jewellery set with hair. Designs like this bracelet in the Neo-classical style were carefully thought out and skilfully executed.

Hair was fashionable for use in jewellery for much of the 19th century. Professional hairworkers wove it, as did amateurs at home. There were even books on hairweaving. Cameos were particularly popular in the early 1800s. Jewellery makers used conch shells from as far afield as Madagascar and Jamaica. They were easier to carve and cheaper than hardstone cameos.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Plaited human hair, with a gold clasp set with a shell cameo
Brief description
Bracelet band made from plaited human hair, with a shell cameo perhaps of Alexander the Great and his wife Roxana, Western Europe, 1830-50
Physical description
A bracelet band made from plaited and twisted human hair. The gold clasp is set with a shell cameo.The gold decorated with graniti (small applied pellets) and cannetille (wire spiral). It possibly represents Alexander the Great, his wife Roxana and a genius, or protecting deity, with a torch.
Dimensions
  • Length: 20.3cm
  • Height: 5.2cm
  • Diameter: 1.9cm
  • Cameo height: 4.5cm
  • Cameo width: 4cm
Credit line
Cory Bequest
Subjects depicted
Summary
The Victorians continued the custom of using hair jewellery in gifts of love and remembrance. Queen Victoria both wore and gave jewellery set with hair. Designs like this bracelet in the Neo-classical style were carefully thought out and skilfully executed.

Hair was fashionable for use in jewellery for much of the 19th century. Professional hairworkers wove it, as did amateurs at home. There were even books on hairweaving. Cameos were particularly popular in the early 1800s. Jewellery makers used conch shells from as far afield as Madagascar and Jamaica. They were easier to carve and cheaper than hardstone cameos.
Collection
Accession number
M.64-1951

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Record createdDecember 8, 2002
Record URL
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