Mourning Hair Art Description

Item: Hair art picture with family provenance on the back

Reference #: 6017

Status: sold

Dimensions: 9.5 inches by 11 inches

Condition: excellent and all original

Year: 1830-50

Description: This hairwork picture has many superb features. It is rich in mourning symbolism, has fine quality hairwork and there is a label on the back describing the provenance of the piece! The handwritten label on the back tells which family member's hair was used to make each part of the hair picture!! (see translation below) The mourning symbolism includes: the bird representing the Spirits ascension into heaven, the broken column symbolizing how abrupt the end of life is, the crown at the base of the column symbolizing the crown that awaits one in heaven; also found is the classic weeping willow tree and "forget me not" flowers at the base of the tomb. Please, be assured that the hair work on this is piece is TOP quality. The ivy and the weeping willow tree actually come out from the glass background which gives the picture a 3-D effect. The glass covering this picture is highly domed which makes it difficult to get good, clear photos of the hairwork. The frame is ebony wood and the hair is applied to glass. Here is a close up photo: 6017a.jpg The translation of the label is as follows: the broken column and the crown were made from the hair of Henri Moizin"; The weeping willow tree was made from the hair of Mr. and Mrs. Marzin; the bird was made from "the hair of little Leon Marzin"; the tall trees in the background were made from the hair of Jean B. (maybe Jean Baptiste) at age 2 and age 13; the "Forget-me-nots" and grass were made from the hair of Miss Adele Moizin.