Lemuel Leland Powers was born 15 June 1756 in Littleton. He was one of four Baptist ministers who served a group of churches in New York, Vermont and Massachusetts. He resettled in New York. The pieces were hair from Lemuel’s great-grandson Warren (Matilda) Powers’ daughter Lydia and her husband Matthew Laird.
Hair jewelry was often given as tokens of affection as well as the traditional mourning pieces. The Victorians were highly sentimental, highly romantic, and hugely emotional. The idea of keeping a piece of a loved one close seemed like an ideal way to remember someone.
From Wikiwand: “Unlike many other natural materials, human hair does not decay with the passing of time. Hair has chemical qualities that cause it to last for hundreds, possibly thousands, of years.”
From Victoriana Magazine: “During the mid-nineteenth century hair work became a popular drawing-room occupation, as fashionable as the much-practiced knitting, netting, and crocheting. By acquiring knowledge of this art, ladies were able to manufacture the hair of beloved friends and relatives into bracelets, chains, rings, earrings, and thus insure that they could actually wear the treasured memento they prized. Godey’s Lady’s Book, in the 1850s, provided directions and pattern designs for creating these cherished keepsakes.”
Hair ornaments…yea or nay?
nay
We need to put these on exhibit
Oh My Gracious. Those are amazing and beautiful.