Hair work mourning Albert chain or fob - 1914

Mourning jewellery represents a connection to a deceased loved one. Mourning jewellery could take many forms - ring, bracelet, cuff links, brooch, or a fob chain as in this case.
It was the death of Queen Victoria’s beloved husband, Prince Albert, in 1861 that revived the popularity of mourning jewellery. Woven hair chains such as this are commonly referred to as Albert chains. Jewellers offered a range of decorative attachments to choose from and the family provided the hair.

Several pieces of mourning jewellery may have been produced to commemorate one deceased person, with funds in the will set aside for family members. They could also be worn after the formal stage of mourning for the rest of the owner’s life.

This particular example was made towards the end of the practice of making such jewellery - 1914. It is also unusual in having an intricate, open weave pattern. Most such chains had a central cord for strength around which the hair was woven in a tight, rope like formation.
It may have been worn by either a man or a woman, either as a pocket watch fob or a chatelaine.

This chain was purchased from Uruguay, but was likely to have been made in either Europe or the United Kingdom.