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Antique French Hair Art Mourning Icon, 8.5" x 7" Oval Frame, Blond, dated 1872
Antique French Hair Art Mourning Icon, 8.5" x 7" Oval Frame, Blond, dated 1872
Antique French Hair Art Mourning Icon, 8.5" x 7" Oval Frame, Blond, dated 1872
Antique French Hair Art Mourning Icon, 8.5" x 7" Oval Frame, Blond, dated 1872
Antique French Hair Art Mourning Icon, 8.5" x 7" Oval Frame, Blond, dated 1872
Antique French Hair Art Mourning Icon, 8.5" x 7" Oval Frame, Blond, dated 1872
Antique French Hair Art Mourning Icon, 8.5" x 7" Oval Frame, Blond, dated 1872

Antique French Hair Art Mourning Icon, 8.5" x 7" Oval Frame, Blond, dated 1872

Regular price $695.00 Sale price $486.50
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Elaborately crafted and large antique mid-1800s French hair art memorial, likely a souvenir of a child, since the blond hair is rather rare in adult memorials. This one is dark blond, all the same color. Some gold threads used in the composition and notations of initials F B along with the date 15 March, 1872. One might with a great deal of search, figure out to whom this hair is worked to memorialize. Sadly, most families buried more than one child in their time, and with no photos, mementos like this were the treasured icon left a parent in mourning. The art was quite popular, and you can see in our images the pages from a hair arts business, showing possible arrangements. This one is larger than most, and has a very heavy frame that seems to be wood, but is very dense, indeed. Unique among those we've found and offered. The cover glass is intact, the hair art adhered to the white opaline glass backing upon which it has been worked.

Very good condition, as noted above, for age and type. No chips nor cracks in cover glass nor in the opaline glass backing to the arranged hair locks. The hair isn't floating - perhaps a piece or two, but largely adhering still and stable. The heavy old wood has a very old and yet looks exceptionally fine. The original sealed backing has not been disturbed. It might benefit from being opened and the interior of the bombe glass cleaned very carefully, then put back together, but we will leave that decision to its next owner. Large, this one is 8.5" x 7" oval and .75" thick. The aperture is 5.25" x 4" oval. Measurements are also noted on the photos.