This is a splendid mid-1800s French mourning or sentimental jewelry item, a large cuff bracelet that measures 8" when relaxed and of course being of woven human hair, it can also stretch a bit. It might well have been a gentleman's bracelet, noting the larger size. The beautiful hand crafted clasp bears the French eagle's head mark which guarantees it to be solid 18k gold. The color of the gold is yellow, and it's beautifully worked, engraved and has a monogram F. Clasp has hinged tongue and both sides of the clasp are marked at 18k gold. Purchased from an estate that came to market in Paris, we do not have info on the original owner nor whose sentiment is contained so beautifully herein. One assumes a woman with very long hair, but it is also the case that a young boy's long locks would be shorn at about the age or 4-5 years and those long locks were sometimes kept as a memento as a boy went from being Mama's babe to being Papa's fils (son), and this might well have been the commemoration herein - a bracelet that is larger than most and would have likely been made for a man. Monogram: F. Sold without the antique box that it's shown in, by the way. The box isn't original to it, does not go with it.
Very good to excellent, one of the nicest we've ever found and not a hair out of place, which is very rare. The chestnut brown hair is tightly woven into plaits that are round and hollow and approximately .25" in diameter, then braided in double strand to achieve the look you see. As noted, not a single broken or misplaced hair showing on this one, and no dents or damage to the gold clasp, either. A truly rare find!
