Victorian mourning brooch, plaited hair under glass, 1871

A Victorian mourning brooch containing an elaborate plaited-hair miniature under bevelled glass, mounted in 15ct yellow gold with black enamel scrollwork to the border. The reverse retains its original engraving: 'Elizabeth · aet. 34 · 1871'. The hair is worked into a tight table-plait with a central rosette, a technique that required considerable skill and roughly six weeks of evenings.

Hairwork of this quality was executed either at home by skilled family members or by specialist workshops such as Forrer of Regent Street. We make no claim as to which, but the tension is professional.

Offered with reverence. This is a person, in the sense that mattered to the person who commissioned it.