1840s Woven Hair Pendant with Daguerreotype

Hair has been a popular keepsake throughout history.  Hair is light and compact, it does not decay and it can be easily cut and woven.  The sentimental Georgians and Victorians took the hair keepsake to the next level with intricate hair paintings and finely braided hair pieces for use in lockets, bracelets and even necklace chains.  Hair was used in mourning and in love.  Lovers would often gift their hair to their sweethearts, their fiancees, wives or husbands.  While other times locks of hair were kept in remembrance of the departed.  

Our pendant features a small floral-like design set against a backdrop of woven auburn hair.  The hair is protected behind a thick piece of glass.  On the other side a beautiful daguerreotype of a woman.

Daguerreotypes were invented in 1839 by Louis Daguerre.  They were the favorite form of printed portraits throughout the 1840s and 50s, losing favor to more modern practices by the 1860s.  Daguerreotypes are silver-plated copper, almost mirror-like plates, that are painted with light sensitive chemicals.  After an image is exposed on a plate it is treated with mercury to reveal the image, it is then fixed to remove its light sensitivity and often sealed behind glass of a book frame or brooch to protect it.  

The hair and daguerreotype are set in a large ornate gold filled circular frame with a floral and etched design.  Unfortunately, there is no inscription.  We may never know if this pendant was for mourning or a gift to a loved one.