Hair Pendant

An image of a gold framed pendant. Inside there is braided light brown hair. It is topped with glass. Under there is a netted white doily sitting on a wood table.
Hair Pendant from the Eldon House collection

Country of Origin: likely Canada
Year: ca. 1885
Materials: Metal, paper, glass, and hair 

Mortality rates were higher during the Victorian Era, and as such people were focused on death and mourning practices. Furthermore, extended periods of mourning and mourning fashion were popularized by Queen Victoria and her grief after the death of Prince Albert. Mourning became a large trend and people looked to commemorate their loved ones at gravesites and in their homes. One way to do this was to create jewelry using hair. The most popular items was to create rings or necklaces.

Necklaces could be quite intricate and involve braiding or curling hair into different shapes. This piece, which is made of the deceased hair, is braided into a glass pendant. This would have been worn by family members to commemorate their lives.

We acknowledge that we are on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak and Attawandaron. We honour and respect the history, languages and culture of the diverse Indigenous people who call this territory home.

We acknowledge all the treaties that are specific to this area: the Two Row Wampum Belt Treaty of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy/Silver Covenant Chain; the Beaver Hunting Grounds of the Haudenosaunee NANFAN Treaty of 1701; the McKee Treaty of 1790, the London Township Treaty of 1796, the Huron Tract Treaty of 1827, with the Anishinaabeg, and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum of the Anishnaabek and Haudenosaunee.

The three Indigenous Nations that are neighbours to London are the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation; Oneida Nation of the Thames; and the Munsee-Delaware Nation who all continue to live as sovereign Nations with individual and unique languages, cultures, and customs.