American

A lock of hair was often cherished as a tangible remembrance of a deceased loved one; this bright blue enameled locket incorporates a lock of hair and a small photograph. The practice of incorporating hair into jewelry began in Europe as early as the 16th century, and by the 19th century became an art of its own, with instructional manuals detailing the latest patterns and techniques.

The hair in these pieces was braided using a method that employed weighted bobbins to produce hollow tubes or solid lengths of woven hair, which were made into various forms of jewelry.