Hair jewellery

Hair jewellery with which we are most familiar is, I suppose, mourning jewellery, which often contained a lock of hair of the deceased and would have been given to members of the deceased’s family as a memento. And indeed hair did not need to be made into jewellery to be treasured. Jane Austen’s hair was kept as a momento, as was a lock of her father’s hair, and both are kept in the collection of the Jane Austen’s House Museum. Do note the label -My Father’s Hair- is written in Jane’s hand:

 

beaded bracelet

Included in the collection at Jane Austen's House in Chawton, are a few pieces of jewelry owned by the Austen women. Most famous, are, of course, the topaz crosses brought back from a voyage by the Austen's younger brother, Charles, however, also on display is this lovely beaded bracelet. While not precious in the eyes of the world, it must have been cherished by one or both of the sister's in order to be preserved, as it is today, safe and sound for us to see.

topaz crosses

It was while stationed on the Endymion that Charles purchased for his sisters the famous topaz crosses now on display at Chawton Cottage.

Charles [...] has received 30£. for his share of the privateer, and expects 10£. more; but of what avail is it to take prizes if he lays out the produce in presents to his sisters? He has been buying gold chains and topaze crosses for us. He must be well scolded. The "Endymion" has already received orders for taking troops to Egypt, which I should not like at all if I did not trust to Charles being removed from her somehow or other before she sails. He knows nothing of his own destination, he says, but desires me to write directly, as the "Endymion" will probably sail in three or four days. He will receive my yesterday's letter, and I shall write again by this post to thank and reproach him. We shall be unbearably fine.

Jane Austen to Cassandra

1801

Topas kruizen

Jane kreeg deze Topas kruizen van haar

broer Charles in 1801.