The museum which has such a good collection of hair weaving in our area is located in our "Old City Cemetery", and is a museum which focuses on the anthropological perspective of our city as seen through the culture surrounding death, funerals, and mourning. It's actually a fascinating subject, and the museum itself is filled with fascinating things, not the least of which is the mourning jewelry, and the tone of the museum is one of celebration of the human condition Most of the jewelry is made as a hollow tube that is shaped and curved in a method very much like the Japanese art of Kumihimo, and then fitted with gold jewelry findings. The pieces are braided over a solid core - either a tube (straight or shaped), or perhaps a series of beads. After the weaving is done, it is placed (with the core still in place) in a bath of boiling water for just a few seconds. Then it is put in an oven at a low temperature to set. This accomplishes the same thing that happens when we put a perm in our hair. So when the core is removed, the hair retains the shape. Another variation is when the hair is woven in a flat piece which is then mounted under glass in a small frame such as a locket. One of the most amazing pieces in the collection is a "picture" which on first glance is a sepia-toned representation of a floral spray. But on close examination, you see that each of the flowers, leaves, and stems is made with hair. The piece was made over a long period of time and contains hair from many different members of a large family. So that explains the variety in the hair colors, and also the overall "tone", which appears sepia. The technique for this piece is not similar to kumihimo, but is more like the art of quilling. But I must say that although I was contacted, because I'm a lacemaker, to help set up the display by producing a work "in progress", the art of hair weaving and the art of lacemaking are not at all alike.
If you ever have an opportunity to visit a museum display of mourning customs and particularly the hair jewelry, do go. It really is amazing. Clay Clay Blackwell [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [Original Message] > From: Elizabeth Ligeti <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: 3/5/2005 2:40:28 PM > Subject: [lace] Hair Weaving > > There was a hair woven piece , framed, at the 4 Mile House ( an old > StageCoach house) in Denver. (I think it is called that!) > Helen may be able to tell you more. It was the first (and only) time I have > seen anything like this. > Regards from Liz Ligeti > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > - > To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: > unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
