Band of Lace
1640-1680 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Because of their fragility very few pieces of needle lace worked in hair survive from the 17th century. They are usually in the shape of a narrow band, like this. Some have loops at the ends, suggesting they were meant to be fastened around something. It seems most likely that they were worn around the wrist, as a bracelet.
A reference in John Donne's early 17th century poem The Relique, suggests that bracelets worked in hair were given and worn as love tokens:
When my grave is broke up againe
Some second ghest to entertaine ...
And he that digs it, spies
A bracelet of bright haire about the bone,
Will he not let us alone
And thinke that there a loving couple lies...
[the poem continues]
Who thought that this device might be some way
to make their soules, at the last busie day,
meet at this grave, and make a little stay ?..
A reference in John Donne's early 17th century poem The Relique, suggests that bracelets worked in hair were given and worn as love tokens:
When my grave is broke up againe
Some second ghest to entertaine ...
And he that digs it, spies
A bracelet of bright haire about the bone,
Will he not let us alone
And thinke that there a loving couple lies...
[the poem continues]
Who thought that this device might be some way
to make their soules, at the last busie day,
meet at this grave, and make a little stay ?..
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Needle lace, worked in human hair |
| Brief description | Band of needle lace made from human hair, English, 1640-1680 |
| Physical description | Piece of needle lace worked in human hair. Mounted in glass frame. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Credit line | Given by Mrs Delpratt Harris |
| Historical context | In the play How a Man may chuse a good wife from a bad, 1602, the hero explains that he was once a melancholic person "one that did use much bracelets of haire". quoted in Dress in the age of Elizabeth I by Jane Ashelford (1988). |
| Summary | Because of their fragility very few pieces of needle lace worked in hair survive from the 17th century. They are usually in the shape of a narrow band, like this. Some have loops at the ends, suggesting they were meant to be fastened around something. It seems most likely that they were worn around the wrist, as a bracelet. A reference in John Donne's early 17th century poem The Relique, suggests that bracelets worked in hair were given and worn as love tokens: When my grave is broke up againe Some second ghest to entertaine ... And he that digs it, spies A bracelet of bright haire about the bone, Will he not let us alone And thinke that there a loving couple lies... [the poem continues] Who thought that this device might be some way to make their soules, at the last busie day, meet at this grave, and make a little stay ?.. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.265-1927 |
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| Record created | March 20, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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