Artifact No.40 - Victorian Hair Locket

Mourning jewelry, also known as memento mori, started its rise in popularity in the 1700s and 1800s. We found this pendant on eBay while searching for items for episode 20 of our podcast, on the Dark Art of Curio Collecting.

The locket is an octagon, which is about an inch and a half in diameter and is gold-filled. The front of the locket has flowers on it and a green gem, although we can’t confirm if it’s a real gem or a fake one. The back of the locket is engraved with flowers and what appears to be a shield design. The outside of the locket is in good shape, but the best part of this locket is what’s on the inside of it.

We can’t confirm the exact age of the locket, but our friend Google Image Search shows a similar locket that is described as a Victorian-era locket, which suggests it was likely made between 1837 and 1901.

There are two locks of hair inside the locket. One is golden blonde and the other is light brown hair.

Typically, hair would be collected from the head of a deceased loved one and would be kept as a memento to be worn by the living family during the mourning period. During the American Civil War, soldiers would also sometimes leave a lock of hair with their families before heading to war so that the lock of hair could be made into mourning jewelry if the soldier did not return.

Unfortunately, we will never know who owned this locket and whose hair is kept inside it. We do know that whoever it belonged to, they were likely loved, and we feel this locket deserves a special home.