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EDITOR'S NOTE: This is part of a weekly series on our region's history coordinated by the Trumbull County Historical Society.
We often think about the Victorian time period with either a sense of whimsy brought on by pop culture (Bridgerton) or a sense of horror at the practices of the time (hygiene habits, death practices, arsenic use, etc.).
One unique practice that involves human hair has always sparked a sense of curiosity. The Victorians had a common practice of creating intricate designs and art out of human hair. The hair was collected from their loved ones, including friends and family and then made into brooches, hanging works, pasted onto paper and more. This practice was popular from the 1830s-1900s. The designs can be compared to the intricate patterns of lacework, but made of hair instead of string.
Oftentimes, the hair was collected from loved ones who had passed away. This allowed for the family to hold on to a piece of their loved one that wouldn't break down. Unlike other parts of the body, hair holds up pretty well to the test of time.
Loved ones could carry a piece of their loved one with them in the form of a locket or brooch or keep the lock of hair with a photograph of the deceased. But hair also could be used in creating family trees as well, whether the hair was used to create a design around the embroidered tree or was placed above the corresponding person's photograph.
A wonderful example of this type of art is Elizabeth Brown's signature book dating from the 1830s to 1890s that is housed in the Trumbull County Historical Society's collection. This signature book features dozens of hair art pasted to pages above friends' handwritten messages. Each lock of hair was intricately placed and pasted to the page and adorned with ribbons.
It is unknown whether it was the loved ones who created the hair art from their own hair and gave it to Elizabeth for her book, or whether Elizabeth collected the hair and created the designs herself. Many of the hair designs are shaped into what looks like floral designs or into wreath shapes.
It should be noted that the hair in Elizabeth's book was from those who were living at the time. So it was a way to celebrate and embrace loved ones who you may not be able to see very often. Think of it as a token of friendship.
Forming each strand of hair into a design was a way for the artist to connect with the person whose hair they are holding.
Many examples of hair art exist today because of the women who spent hours of their life creating the intricate and beautiful designs. It showed their love for the person.
In cases like Elizabeth Brown's book, underneath the hair a poem was written by the loved one that described either their relationship to Mrs. Brown or how they viewed the essence of who Elizabeth was. In a time when people feel so disconnected from one another, maybe we should reconsider Victorian practices and bring back the practice of hair art.