Historic New England

Watch Chain

Watch chain consisting of two woven ropes of human hair wrapped around each other, gold mounts at center and ends of rope with engraved scrolled decoration, hook and eye findings at each end for attaching watch. Cross-shaped human hair watch fob with gold end caps.

Date: 1850-1860

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 103253

Accession Number: 1987.989

Brooch

Rectangular brooch with an empty wire gold-plated frame surrounded by a tableworked rope of human hair. Hair attached to frame by four gold findings equally spaced around the frame, top finding engraved with initials (see Inscriptions).

Date: 1850-1870

Maker: unknown

Material: human hair, gold alloy, plating (metal coating)

GUSN: 103254

Accession Number: 1987.990

Jewelry Box

White square cardboard box with lid with green edge and orange paper label.

Date: 1880-1900

Maker: unknown

Material: paper (fiber product)

GUSN: 103255

Accession Number: 1987.991AB

Pair of shirt studs

Pair of studs with small seed pearls set in gold setting with stamped decoration around setting, corkscrew fasteners.

Date: 1880-1900

Maker: unknown

Material: pearl (animal material), gold alloy, plating (metal coating)

GUSN: 103256

Accession Number: 1987.992AB

Shirt stud

Round shirt stud with cameo bust of a classical woman in profile (white-colored glass) on a black-colored glass ground in a gold setting, corkscrew fastener.

Date: 1860-1900

Maker: unknown

Material: glass (material), gold alloy, plating (metal coating)

GUSN: 103257

Accession Number: 1987.993

Set of shirt studs

Three diamond-shaped studs with small carved bas-relief carved white-colored flowers on a black-colored ground set in gold mounts, corkscrew fasteners.

Date: 1870-1900

Maker: unknown

Material: glass (material), gold alloy, plating (metal coating)

GUSN: 103258

Accession Number: 1987.994.A-C

Watch Key

Gold-filled watch key in the shape of a lyre.

Date: 1890-1900

Maker: unknown

Material: gold alloy, plating (metal coating)

GUSN: 103259

Accession Number: 1987.995

Watch key

Gold filled watch key with scrolled handle with three accessories to fit different watches (2 attached, 1 loose), octagonal base.

Date: 1870-1900

Maker: unknown

Material: gold (metal), plating (metal coating)

GUSN: 103260

Accession Number: 1987.996

Watch Key

Metal watch key with a flattened tear drop-shaped handle, ring applied to shaft.

Date: 1870-1900

Maker: unknown

Material: base metal

GUSN: 103261

Accession Number: 1987.997

Watch Key

Gold-filled watch key with scrolled and pierced rococo-revival finial. Ring for suspension attached to chased ferrule on barrel of pin.

Date: 1870-1900

Maker: unknown

Material: gold alloy, plating (metal coating)

GUSN: 103262

Accession Number: 1987.998

Ring

Hair ring with buckle-shaped gold finding. The hair has disintigrated, leaving the buckle, a small portion of the hair band, and gold findings, consisting of a pair of bead-decorated square end caps and what appears to be a slide or cap, with suspension ring attached to one side.

Date: 1850-1880

Maker: unknown

Material: human hair, gold alloy, plating (metal coating)

GUSN: 103263

Accession Number: 1987.999

Brooch

Circular gold locket with floral border, center set with a braid of brown hair under glass, ring at top for necklace and hook on reverse for pin.

Date: 1835

Maker: unknown

Material: glass (material)

GUSN: 103264

Accession Number: 1987.1000

Belt Buckle

Mother of pearl lady's waist buckle with carved and pierced star decoration on border around raised buttons.

Date: 1830-1840

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 103265

Accession Number: 1987.1492

Belt Buckle

Mother of pearl lady's waist buckle with carved and pierced star decoration on border around raised buttons.

Date: 1830-1840

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 103266

Accession Number: 1987.1493

Brooch

Cross brooch consisting of woven tubes of brown hair, engraved floral gold terminals at the end of each arm, hinged pin and hook on reverse and loop at top.

Date: 1850-1880

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 103267

Accession Number: 1987.1494

Monocular Stanhope Charm

Mother-of-pearl monocular stanhope charm in the shape of a barrel with an image of the Cavern Cascade and Long Staircase in Watkins Glen, New York inside.

Date: 1850-1870

Maker: unknown

Material: mother of pearl, glass (material), paper (fiber product)

GUSN: 103268

Accession Number: 1987.1495

Set of Buttons

Five gilt brass buttons in the shape of twisted balls of ribbon, loops for attachment on reverse.

Date: 1850-1900

Maker: unknown

Material: brass (alloy)

GUSN: 103269

Accession Number: 1987.1496.1-5

Cuff Link Set

Three small gold cuff links with oval ends with machine turned engraving.

Date: 1880-1910

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 103270

Accession Number: 1987.1497.1-3

Ornament

Ornament made of iridescent shells in the form of a flower with leaves.

Date: 1875-1899

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 103271

Accession Number: 1987.1498

Cuff Buttons

Pair of circular ivory cuff buttons with bust portraits of George Washington above American flags and and the year "1776" in scrimshaw, ivory shafts, and circular guards on reverse.

Date: 1876

Maker: unknown

Material: bone (material)

GUSN: 103272

Accession Number: 1987.670.1-2

Pendant with miniature portrait of George May Merriam

Oval gold frame with beaded edge, set with a miniature painting on ivory featuring a profile bust portrait of a young man, reverse has small inset window set with brown hair, gold loop attachment at top.

Date: ca. 1803

Maker: unknown

Material: gold (metal), ivory (tooth component), human hair

GUSN: 103273

Accession Number: 1928.38

Two-piece bridal dress with veil

Ivory satin two-piece bridal dress with lace veil. Fitted bodice with long sleeves and a high mock neck, satin epaulets at shoulders and ruched satin rosettes, one at the waistline and two on the neck. A-line satin skirt with train consisting of seven panels, inner edge of hem trimmed with a band of...

Date: 1895

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 103274

Accession Number: 2007.12.1A-C

Maid-of-honor dress

Grosgrain silk two-piece maid-of-honor dress. Fitted bodice made of ivory silk with long ruche lace sleeves and lace color. A-line shaped silk skirt with train consisting of eight panels.

Date: 1895

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 103275

Accession Number: 2007.12.2AB

Bodice

Ivory diaphanous silk bodice with long puffed sleeves and short round collar, silk covered buttons in front.

Date: 1895

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 103276

Accession Number: 2007.12.7

Hair Comb

Horn comb in the form of a moth with a six tooth hinged comb on reverse.

Date: 1870

Maker: Brow, Elias (Inventor)

GUSN: 103076

Accession Number: 1917.192

Comb

Double sided bone comb with very fine teeth.

Date: 1800-1820

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 103077

Accession Number: 1917.945

Hair Comb

Brass back comb with rounded top and nine teeth.

Date: 1800-1825

Maker: unknown

Material: brass (alloy)

GUSN: 103078

Accession Number: 1917.1288

Hair Comb

Curved tortoiseshell back comb with an abstract carved and pierced scrolled foliate design at top, multiple teeth (one missing).

Date: 1825-1840

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 103080

Accession Number: 1920.538

Hair Comb

Curved horn side comb with straight square top and multiple teeth.

Date: 1825-1850

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 103081

Accession Number: 1920.539

Hair Comb

Small gilded metal side comb with three rosettes and a wavy border at top, fifteen teeth.

Date: 1800-1820

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 103082

Accession Number: 1920.540

Pocket Comb

Bone jack knife style pocket comb with a vulcanite case featuring a cornucopia, eagle with shield and spray of flowers in relief on one side, and a standing George Washington in relief on the other.

Date: 1850-1873

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 103083

Accession Number: 1921.177

Pair of Side Combs

Pair of horn side combs with folded over tops featuring a pierced abstract shape and carved scroll line design, thirty-two teeth on comb A, thirty-three teeth on comb B (one missing).

Date: 1860-1900

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 103084

Accession Number: 1925.563ab

Hair Comb

Vulcanite back comb with a row of nine graduated ivory balls at top, eight teeth.

Date: 1860-1870

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 103085

Accession Number: 1925.820

Hair Comb

Celluloid hinged back comb with a flared wing shaped top featuring a pierced geometric design, center top set with a horn rosette, seven teeth.

Date: 1860-1880

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 103086

Accession Number: 1927.967

Hair Comb

Ivory back comb with a row of nine graduated balls at top, eight teeth.

Date: 1860-1870

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 103087

Accession Number: 1928.240

Pair of Side Combs

Pair of small rectangular side combs with multiple fine teeth.

Date: 1850-1900

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 103088

Accession Number: 1928.826ab

Hair Comb

Vulcanite or hard rubber back comb in a horseshoe shape, eleven teeth.

Date: 1860-1880

Maker: unknown

Material: vulcanite, rubber (material), molding (forming)

GUSN: 103089

Accession Number: 1928.901

Hair Comb

Tortoiseshell side comb with a molded curved top, multiple teeth.

Date: 1800-1899

Maker: unknown

Material: tortoise shell

GUSN: 103090

Accession Number: 1928.939

Hair Comb

Tortoiseshell side comb with a molded curved top, multiple teeth.

Date: 1800-1899

Maker: unknown

Material: tortoise shell

GUSN: 103091

Accession Number: 1928.941

Bobby Pins in Original Box

Two metal bobby pins in original orange cardboard box.

Date: 1929

Maker: The Hump Hair Pin Manufacturing Co. (Manufacturer)

GUSN: 103092

Accession Number: 1929.441

Hair Comb

Horn hinged back comb with a cut steel rosette bead top, seven teeth (one missing).

Date: 1860-1875

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 103093

Accession Number: 1929.500

Pocket Comb and case

Black vulcanite pocket comb with large teeth on left side and smaller teeth on right. "Mauchline Ware" wooden case printed with an image of The Flume at Franconia Notch, NH.

Date: ca. 1874

Maker: unknown

Material: sycamore (wood)

GUSN: 103094

Accession Number: 1929.1491AB