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This small circular brooch contains a braided lock of blonde hair under glass surrounded by seed pearls set in gold. It attaches with a hinged pin and hook on the reverse.
brooches
pins (jewelry)
mourning jewelry
glass (material)
freshwater pearl
human hair
gold alloy
hairwork jewelry
Brooch
"Mementos: Jewelry of Life and Love from Historic New England": This tiny pin held a woman's neckerchief closed. Made of gold and set with pearls to symbolize tears, this pin descended in the family of silversmith Ebenezer Moulton, who may have made it for his daughter, who gave it to her son-in-law.
754
Attributed to Moulton, Ebeneezer, 1768-1824 (Jeweler)
3/16 (W), 1/2 (diameter) (inches)
Gift of Mr. Newton Mackintosh
1913.112
For more information on hair jewelry see Bell, C. Jeanenne, "Collector's Encyclopedia of Hairwork Jewelry," (1998); Bury, Shirley, "Jewellery, 1789-1910," v. 2 (1991): 680-698; Campbell, Mark, "The Art of Hair Work: Hair Braiding and Jewelry of Sentiment with Catalog of Hair Jewelry," Eds. Jules & Kaethe Kliot (facsimile of 1875 printing, 1996); Dawes, Ginny Reddington & Corinne Davidov, "Victorian Jewelry: Unexplored Treasures," (1991): 139-143; Fales, Martha Gandy, "Jewelry in America, 1600-1900," (1995): 98-107, 214-219.
Probably Newburyport (Essex county, Massachusetts)
Boston (Suffolk county, Massachusetts)
Title Mourning ring Accession Number 1913.108
Title 110 - Pair of Mourning Earrings Accession Number 1913.109
Title Mourning Pin Accession Number 1913.111
Title Mourning Pin Accession Number 1913.112
Title Bead watch chain Accession Number 1913.113
Title Mourning Pin Accession Number 1913.114
Title Coral for child's sleeves Accession Number 1913.115
Title Coral for Child's sleeves Accession Number 1913.116
Title c - Silver watch and two keys Accession Number 1914.8 a
Title c - Gold watch, case and key Accession Number 1914.10 a
Title 67 - Pair of buckles Accession Number 1914.66
Title Gold bead necklace Accession Number 1914.68
Title Hair Ornament Accession Number 1914.669
Title Hair Ornament Accession Number 1914.670
Title Hair Ornament Accession Number 1914.671
Title Wooden pin Accession Number 1914.1141
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