Georgian Bracelet Red Horse Hair Irish Circa 1820 RARE

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Georgian Bracelet Red Horse Hair Irish Circa 1820 RARE:
$466.71

Dating from the Regency period circa 1820s and of Irish inorigin, this is such a rare item that you will struggle to find outside of amuseum. Please see an identical set of red horsehair bracelets in the CooperHewitt, New York and The National Museum of Ireland, Arts and Industry section.

Our example was purchased from the deceased estate of alifelong, discerning collector of Georgian and very early Victorian hair, cutsteel and iron work jewellery. Please view our other cut steel examples.

This exceptionally delicate and elegant item of lady’s jewellerywas hand made from horse hair. Horse hair was readily available and often usedfor stuffing furniture and making wigs. It was also fashioned in to very ornateitems ofjewelry. See a similar white horse hair bracelet on plate 21, page71 of Jane Toller\'s book Victorian and Regency Crafts.

Our splendid example measures approx. 21 cm to the tip ofthe droppers by 4 cm. Its actual securing wrist size is a small 6 cm.

This bracelet was painstakingly made from dyed Chinese redhorse hair. Strands of horse hair wrapped around with further strands whichwere then made up in to the chain link and three dimensional floral designs. Itis an absolute work of art and one simply cannot imagine how long this took tomake. When you consider the feather light weight of this item and the fragilityof the design, it is no wonder that not many examples have survived.

Condition - As one would expect from the fragile nature ofthe raw material, there are a few breakages and careful repairs. The threedimensional flower nearest the T bar securer has an invisible thread repair.The two end droppers have some dark staining to the red horse hair. But nothingdetrimental, this bracelet secures well and could still be worn for a very,very special occasion by a small wristed individual.

Item ID:11170