Band

Because of their fragility, very few pieces of needle lace worked in hair survive from the 17th century. They are usually in the shape of a narrow band, like this. One example has loops at the ends, suggesting that it was meant to be fastened around something. It seems most likely that such pieces were worn around the wrist, as a bracelet.

A reference in the English poet John Donne’s poem ‘The Relique’, written in the early 17th century, suggests that bracelets worked in hair were given and worn as love tokens:

When my grave is broke up againe
Some second ghest to entertaine ...
And he that digs it, spies
A bracelet of bright haire about the bone,
Will he not let us alone
And thinke that there a loving couple lies ...

This piece of lace is worked in light and darker brown hair, which is probably human. The pattern has been outlined with a thicker hair, which may be horsehair.