Victorian Hairwork, Victorian Hair Art, Victorian Hair Wreath, Hair Flowers, 19th Century America, 19th Century Crafts, 19th Century Domestic Arts, Gender Studies, Material Culture, History, Women’s History Diane Irby Victorian Hairwork, Victorian Hair Art, Victorian Hair Wreath, Hair Flowers, 19th Century America, 19th Century Crafts, 19th Century Domestic Arts, Gender Studies, Material Culture, History, Women’s History Diane Irby

Gender, Class, and the Social Function of Victorian Hairwork Flowers and Wreaths

Victorian hairwork wirework hair flowers and wreaths embodied class, gender, and emotional labor. Learn how their role as handmade domestic art reflected women’s cultural expectations and the performative expression of sentiment in the 19th-century home.

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Victorian Hairwork, Victorian Hair Art, Victorian Hair Wreath, Material Culture, 19th Century Crafts, 19th Century Domestic Arts, Memory and Mourning Practices Diane Irby Victorian Hairwork, Victorian Hair Art, Victorian Hair Wreath, Material Culture, 19th Century Crafts, 19th Century Domestic Arts, Memory and Mourning Practices Diane Irby

Cultural Meaning in Victorian Hairwork Wirework Hair Flowers & Wreaths

Discover the cultural significance of Victorian wirework hair flowers and wreaths - handmade keepsakes crafted from human hair that symbolized memory, affection, and family legacy in 19th-century life.

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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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