Adam's Fine Jewellery & Watches 18th October 2016 : You can Download a PDF Version from the Bottom Menu Down Arrow Icon

Tuesday 18th October

The integration of hair in jewellery is usually associated with mourning jewellery, however for Vic-

torian society it had a much broader significance.The exchange of hair in jewellery was a statement

of sentiment, friendship or courtship, as well as a momentum of a loved one. QueenVictoria herself

felt that hair in jewellery held an element of spirituality.Among the gifts exchanged between Queen

Victoria and the Empress Eugenie in 1855 were hair work bracelets; although these bracelets would

have been professionally made, in order to convey the intended sentiment the Queen and Empresses

own hair would have to have been used.

Of round shape, set with a portrait miniature of a lady within a surround of

turquoise cabochons to one side and a glazed locket compartment to the re-

verse containing braided hairwork, suspended from a braided hair double lace,

interspersed with gold links,

pendant length 4.7cm,

€ 700 - 1,000

The circular frontispiece set with old brilliant and rose-cut diamonds and

turquoise in the form of a starburst, hinged to reveal a glazed locket compart-

ment, to “S” link bracelet,

diameter of frontispiece 3.7cm, length of bracelet 18.6cm

€ 700 - 900

The body and lid each of a faceted citrine with reeded gold mounts,

the thumbpiece set with three oval cabochon-cut turquoise with

the grill pierced and engraved in floral design, the mount with inset

leaves and flowers, unmarked, width 3.2cm

€ 800 - 1,000

Popular from the late 18th century through the mid-19th century,

vinaigrettes were small containers used for holding various aromatic

substances, usually dissolved in vinegar.A tiny piece of sponge,

soaked in the liquid, was contained beneath the grill. By the 1820s it

was almost exclusively a feminine accessory. Carried in a pocket or

reticule, or suspended from a chatelaine at the waist, it was used to

mask unsanitary odours. Other vinaigrettes contained a mixture of

smelling salts, an ammonia-based inhalant used since ancient times to

revive people who were feeling faint.