Photo: Chronica Domus
In many countries and cultures across the world, our dearly departed family members and friends are remembered on November 1 and 2. Some call this holiday All Souls' Day, others the Day of The Dead.
I have previously written two posts on the curious topic of mourning artwork, and if you'd care to read those, they can found here and here.
Today, I'm sharing yet another piece of mourning art from my collection. The image, constructed entirely of human hair, depicts a neoclassical draped urn surmounting a tomb. It commemorates a death on July 13, 1839 of a sixty-four year old. I have not a clue if the person being memorialized, whose initials are A.J.B., is a male or female, but there are two colors of hair strands in the image which might indicate that a surviving spouse added his or her hair to the deceased's.
A weeping willow tree and pansy are typical symbols associated with mourning during the late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth centuries
Photo: Chronica Domus
This is another favorite in my collection not only for the beautiful imagery which has been skillfully executed, but because of what is found on the back of the five inch square wooden frame.
The original manufacturer's label has been pasted on the dark paper covered backing, and has somehow managed to survive intact through the ensuing years since it was made.
A Parisian perfumer and hair cutter specializing in all things hair related
offers his patrons pictures made of hair cuttings
Photo: Chronica Domus
Although the piece was created in Paris, it had somehow found its way to Amsterdam, which is where I located it. It now sits in my house thousands of miles across the globe here in America.
I find it strangely touching to think that while the person whom this hair work memorializes has long been lost to history along with his or her name, today on All Souls' Day, through the wonders of modern technology, we are able to share a view of this handsome diminutive and eminently personal work of art, and pause to contemplate just who this person may have been.
Do you make a point of remembering your loved ones on this holiday?
It's just not an event here and yet stores close on mainland Europe. I don't really mark the day but in Korea they go to graves of family and have a picnic to a varying degree. My grandfather liked a drink so my mother pours s bottle of his favourite tipple on his grave. It makes the visit funny instead of morose. But having said that I tend to light candles whenever I visit a church that has them.
ReplyDeleteOh, what a very clever and touching thing to share a drink with your grandfather at his grave. I was not at all aware of the Korean tradition of visiting one's dearly departed and partaking of a picnic. Thank you for sharing Naomi.
DeleteAlthough on different days, the Chinese observe Ching Ming or Qingming:
Deletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qingming_Festival
Same idea - remembrance, tomb sweeping and a bit of a party.
Nice to see a post that wasn't about Halloween! (And "happy" Halloween akin to happy birthday, or happy holidays...grrr. In reality read "KERCHING". It's all about the money.)
Oh, thank you columnist. Yet again, I've learned of another holiday in remembrance of those that have gone before us. I love the party aspect of some of these traditions.
DeleteOh, and yes, "kerching" rules here on Halloween. Fortunately, we managed to escape the usual commotion (OK, I'll admit, I don't mind the children knocking on the door for candy so much, but beyond that forget it!). My daughter was invited to a friend's house for the night so my husband and I escaped to the city for dinner at Tadich Grill which was such a treat as the place was not as crowded as it would be on a regular Saturday evening.
Oh CD, the things you find and own are incredible to me. Now you have me thinking of the antiques I have, especially silver, who owned them and where they will end up.
ReplyDeleteIn Cuba it was El Dia De Los Fieles Difuntos, and as I remember as a girl in pre Castro Cuba, where the population was mostly Catholic, it was only celebrated as a religious day. You went to church, although it was not obligatory, to remember those you loved who had died. Thanks for reminding me....
Dear lindaraxa,
DeleteI am pleased to learn of the Cuban tradition of dedicating a day of remembrance for one's dearly departed and that this post has reminded you of it.
I spent some of today reflecting on fond memories created with those that I've known that have gone before me. Sadly, my list is expanding year-over-year.
I think about that all the time these days unfortunately!
DeleteNow, now, lindaraxa, one must not dwell too much on these sad matters for we have good work to perform for those that are still around us. Knowing you are such a fabulous cook, that would likely include providing more than a few memorable meals for your fortunate loved ones. Remember, idle hands and all that!
DeleteWhat an absolutely exquisite piece of painstaking work. I've seen but one---a crypt and vase and willow, on pale silk, and assume that what I was seeing then was needlework. My mind closed down around the intricate possibility of mere needle-threading, and how small the eye must have been on that tiny bit of steel.
ReplyDeleteBut this---ever so much smaller---the shine surely bespeaks glue of some sort, against a china/ceramic/paste background? STILL, each tiny hair, with those infinitesimally small tweezers and the loupe-work---oh. My.
I may be seeing it entirely as something it is not, but it seems a scene-on-a-hard disc, laid down with careful, steady hands, and not stitches as in some similar items. And did one immediately slip some strands of hair slowly and lovingly, during the laying-out, or was that perhaps a general practice of the era, for possible rings or brooches for the bereaved? My curiosities are vast and tenacious when a subject piques my interest, and I want to know every wherefore, every how.
What a charming, poignant souvenir of such a sad time; At four inches, it must have been a display item only, and not an item worn on the person---a purse-keepsake only, or on a boudoir table, perhaps, for daily reminiscence.
Now was the perfect time to share such a sweet memory-piece---we had our share of tiny dia de los muertos faces and costumes the other night.
We all remember, each in our own way.
The word should have been "snip" above, for the cutting of the hair.
ReplyDeleteHello racheld,
DeleteSome of the shine you are seeing can be attributed to the glass covering the hair work, but I must admit, the sheen from the blonde hair is very glossy compared to some of the other examples in my collection.
The hair is mounted on a thin disc of ivory, much like portrait miniaturists used. Artists prepared the ivory (which is naturally greasy) by roughening the surface slightly with sandpaper or powdered pumice stone. If watercolor paint was to be applied, as with the example I show in this post, gum Arabic was mixed with the paint to make it stickier. Some artists added ox-gall to their paints which made them flow easier.
These small mourning hair works were meant to be hung and not worn, as with the rings or brooches you might have seen.
I hope I've provided a little more insight into these fascinating works in miniature. They truly are quite splendid in their construction and visual appeal.
Oooo, this is a treasure. I love the back too - 'au choix des goûts' - such a wonderful name for the establishment! In France, it is not the wild, fun stuff of hallow eve that counts but the day itself, 1 Nov, la Toussaint. It is a holiday and families get together and place flowers on the tombs of their departed loved-ones. I usually do my own little ancestor worship and light a candle. I guess I think both events should count.
ReplyDeleteYes, gésbi, quite a little treasure isn't it?
DeleteI recall one particularly memorable November 1 that I spent in France. We had just crossed over the boarder from Switzerland and our poor car clapped out. We ended up staying in the most charming country motel overnight until someone was available to help us get back on the road the following day. That was the year I discovered that nothing is open in France on November 1, a national holiday.
I loved learning of the French custome of placing flowers at the graveside of family members. How very charming. Thank you for sharing.
CD,
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful pieces you've collected. I confess, the day doesn't cross my radar until I google something and notice the banner with the typical skull as one of the banner flags that I am reminded of the holiday. I remember my lost friends and family many times throughout the year, but I like the idea of a special day when you can toast those lost.
Karen
Hello Karen,
DeleteAs you rightly say, where would we be without our daily Google searches (and frequent banners) and the infinite rabbit holes that open up.
I too remember my friends and family members throughout the year but I really like the fact that a special day of remembrance is set aside by so many cultures around the world, with their own special touches to make their celebrations unique.
Hello CD, You have come up with another marvelous mourning scene done in hairwork. I wouldn't give up on finding out whose memorial this was; the age, date of death, and initials all provide good clues. It looks like Roux might be the surname, and A.J.B. seem more like male initials, as in for example, Antoine Jean Baptiste Roux. More and more public records and cemetery lists are placed on-line, so it would be worth checking periodically, or perhaps you could contact some library or historical society in Paris.
ReplyDeleteAll antiques are imbued with the presence of their past owners, but these memento mori seem especially evocative.
--Jim
Hello Jim,
DeleteThank you for the encouragement with regards to continued research on this beautiful mourning scene. I had overlooked the word "Roux" entirely (first thing that springs to mind is a mixture of flour and butter!), but yes, of course, a surname to be sure.
Dear CD,
ReplyDeleteWhat an exquisite piece of workmanship and a most timely post. We are mourning the recent death of a good friend and best man at our wedding from a sudden heart attack. As my husband and I are both on the other side of 50, we find ourselves remembering those who have gone before us with greater frequency and sadness. We think of them all on All Souls Day as well as during the Mourner's Kaddish (prayer) during Sabbath services and on Yom Kippur.
Best,
KL Gaylin
Hello KL Gaylin,
DeleteI'm so very sorry to hear of your recent loss, and can well understand your sadness.
Thank you for enlightening me with regards to the special remembrance in the Jewish tradition. Prior to publishing this post, I had no idea there were so many ways in which cultures and religions across the globe remember their dearly departed. From reading the wonderful comments, it has become quite apparent that this is an important aspect of life.
Thank you for explaining the significance of All Souls' Day. I have known it as All Saints' Day and have a print of a hunt scene in my parlor titled "The First of November" - not sure what the connection is between the two. Your mourning art is really beautiful. I have seen examples of hair used in mourning jewelry but none as lovely as your examples.
ReplyDeleteHello slf,
DeleteThank you, they really are quite exquisite aren't they? I'm very fortunate to have found such lovely examples and enjoy sharing them with my readers as it seems that they too appreciate their beauty and workmanship.
Now, I must clear something up, or at least attempt to. Your print is perfectly correct. November 1 is All Saints' Day, also known as All Hallows, and is a separate holiday from All Souls' Day, which is celebrated on November 2. The Day of The Dead holiday coincides with All Saints' Day as it begins on November 1 and ends on November 2 (All Souls' Day). So many holidays in remembrance of our dearly departed, saintly or otherwise. It is hard for us mere mortals to keep it all straight sometimes!
Oh, thank you so much for clearing that up! I am always learning something new when I read your blog.
DeleteOh, thank you slf, and very happy to oblige! I love to learn something new every day. It's what makes life so interesting.
DeleteI love all your mourning pieces… but there's something about someone else's human hair that doesn't appeal to me. Not sure why I feel so squeamish about it! One of the auctions I attended recently had a really lovely mourning ring, but I couldn't get past the hair in it! But there is such artistry and sentiment in the pieces I really do admire them from afar.
ReplyDeleteHello Heidi,
DeleteOf course, I can perfectly understand your hesitation when confronted with someone else's hair. These diminutive works don't make me recoil in shock as much as the Victorian hair art which utilized entire woven strands and curls so there is absolutely no mistaking what one is viewing - human hair! The pieces I tend to be attracted to are a little more subtle, I think.
When I visited New York last December, I attended a marvelous exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on mourning clothing and art (per Reggie Darling's personal recommendation). Some of the things I saw were at once awe inspiring and macabre.
I have known about these pieces for some time, and I admit, I'm squeamish! Something to work on, for my personal development. They are beautiful, however, and worthy of collecting IMHO.
ReplyDeleteHello LPC,
DeleteAs I just commented to Heidi (above), I can perfectly understand the squeamishness that this particular genre of art can evoke in the viewer. The early stuff (the period I collect) is much less macabre than the later Victorian examples. In fact, I think them to be rather subtle in comparison. Here are some examples of what I'm yapping on about:
https://thevictormourning.wordpress.com/2013/01/13/labor-of-love-the-art-of-hair-work-in-the-19th-century/
That's a beautiful piece. I love cemeteries and make a point of walking in them around November 1.
ReplyDeleteHello Jen,
DeleteAh, a kindred spirit! I too enjoy cemetery walks. I need to do a blog post on a famous one just south of San Francisco. Many extraordinary grave markers abound.