Victorian Hairwork, LGBTQ+ History, Pride Month, Women’s History, Material Culture, American Folk Art Diane Irby Victorian Hairwork, LGBTQ+ History, Pride Month, Women’s History, Material Culture, American Folk Art Diane Irby

The Double Silhouette: Celebrating Pride Month through the Victorian Hairwork of Sylvia Drake and Charity Bryant

Explore the story of Sylvia Drake and Charity Bryant, a same-gender couple in early America, through their braided hair silhouette. This Victorian-era artwork honors their 44-year partnership, blending material culture, love, and LGBTQ+ history in a rare and moving work of hairwork art.

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Victorian Hairwork, American Folk Art, 19th Century Domestic Arts, Material Culture Diane Irby Victorian Hairwork, American Folk Art, 19th Century Domestic Arts, Material Culture Diane Irby

Victorian Era Women: The DIY OGs

Victorian women embodied the DIY spirit, crafting hairwork jewelry with handmade tools and resourceful skill. This post reflects on an 1877 article from Ladies’ Floral Cabinet, drawing connections between historical and modern creative practices that rely on patience, experimentation, and ingenuity.

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Victorian Hairwork, 19th Century Crafts, American Folk Art, American Cultural Heritage, Art History, Endangered Crafts Diane Irby Victorian Hairwork, 19th Century Crafts, American Folk Art, American Cultural Heritage, Art History, Endangered Crafts Diane Irby

Reviving the Tradition of Hairwork, Preserving Heritage and Artistry

Reviving the nearly forgotten art of hairwork helps preserve American cultural heritage, celebrates feminine creativity, and offers a sustainable, emotionally resonant form of artistic expression rooted in 19th-century traditions.

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