Odd Antiques
When looking for antiques it's nearly always certain, that you will come across items that are unique, unusual or one of a kind. I thought, however that to be truly odd and unique it should be something that, well..... offends, creeps out or one just finds downright gross. There is a series entitled Oddities which shares many weird items for sale in a shop in New York. I wanted to share a few that I got a chuckle out of.
Hair Art:
Art made with human hair has long been a popular art. It reached it's zenith in the Victorian era and has pretty much died off that. Popular in Europe as well as the US it was a way for someone to have mementos of one not near. They were often used in mourning jewelry or art after someone died but was also used as tokens of the living to have a piece close of a loved one. Here are a few popular examples:
Hair Wreath. Strands of individual hair length were wound around thin wires, often using bobbins on a round table. Once the hair is wrapped around the individual wires it was then bent and designed into wreaths such as above. These were often a genealogical chart too representing many different members of a family tree. Remember these were taking individual hairs around tiny wires. Imagine the time it took!
Pendant with woven hairs.
This is all done with human hair. These are good examples of mourning jewelry. After someone died it was a way to keep something of them close.
Bracelet in gold and woven hair
These examples of the bracelets above and the watch fob below may have been used in relation to mourning, but they were also used as simply tokens of having a loved one close. Imagine a man away for long periods of time, his wife would take her hair from her brush and save it. Then she could make him a watch fob so that every time he checked the time he would have a sentimental reminder of his lady.
So the last item I found that grossed me out, but at the same time made me slightly want one is an antique bull penis walking stick. For those of you that don't know Bull penises make great walking sticks... I guess there isn't really much explanation needed so see photos below...
So readers can you contribute to other odd antiques you have come across in your travels? Share!
If you like what you read and want to see this blog and projects keep going PLEASE feel free to donate something, even if it's only a little bit. Every little bit helps on this restoration project. Thanks again!
Hair Art:
Art made with human hair has long been a popular art. It reached it's zenith in the Victorian era and has pretty much died off that. Popular in Europe as well as the US it was a way for someone to have mementos of one not near. They were often used in mourning jewelry or art after someone died but was also used as tokens of the living to have a piece close of a loved one. Here are a few popular examples:
Hair Wreath. Strands of individual hair length were wound around thin wires, often using bobbins on a round table. Once the hair is wrapped around the individual wires it was then bent and designed into wreaths such as above. These were often a genealogical chart too representing many different members of a family tree. Remember these were taking individual hairs around tiny wires. Imagine the time it took!
Bracelet in gold and woven hair
These examples of the bracelets above and the watch fob below may have been used in relation to mourning, but they were also used as simply tokens of having a loved one close. Imagine a man away for long periods of time, his wife would take her hair from her brush and save it. Then she could make him a watch fob so that every time he checked the time he would have a sentimental reminder of his lady.
So the next items I found while shopping on Ebay. They are known as piano figures because they were simply considered "cute" decorations to have on your piano. I'm not sure I would consider these in good taste for my parlor.
So the last item I found that grossed me out, but at the same time made me slightly want one is an antique bull penis walking stick. For those of you that don't know Bull penises make great walking sticks... I guess there isn't really much explanation needed so see photos below...
This one on Ebay is listed as being "hard and sturdy"
So readers can you contribute to other odd antiques you have come across in your travels? Share!
If you like what you read and want to see this blog and projects keep going PLEASE feel free to donate something, even if it's only a little bit. Every little bit helps on this restoration project. Thanks again!
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