Hair Bracelet, Earrings, and Brooch c. 1936

Florence Stevenson made this watercolor drawing of a hair bracelet, earrings, and brooch probably in the late 19th century. The pieces are rendered in exquisite detail, right? You can almost smell the hair oil, and imagine the patient hands of the craftsperson. I imagine her thinking about memento mori when creating this piece. The Victorians had a whole thing about mourning jewelry and keeping locks of loved one's hair, so these objects were probably very sentimental. What was it like to make art out of something so personal? The braid of the bracelet mimics the strands of hair used to create it. These delicate watercolors make me think about intimacy and the beauty of everyday objects. Isn't it wild how someone's personal adornments can become a window into another time?