Christina's Pick - Week 1

Welcome to the first blog post of the Glengarry Pioneer Museum's newest blog - Staff Picks Saturday. My name is Christina Quesnel, and I am a summer student working as a collections and research assistant here in Dunvegan. Throughout the first few weeks I have been working at the museum, I have come across some artifacts that are intriguing, thought-provoking, or just downright weird. My personal favourite so far is a definite oddity: A Hair Wreath.

If you do not know what a hair wreath is, you and I were in the same position. To my surprise, it is quite literally a wreath made out of human hair. Although this might seem like a slightly obscure item in the 21st century, it was a common way to show respect, support, and condolences to lost loved ones. Hair was removed from brushes every night and was kept in a hair receiver (seen below). Although they are usually made of porcelain, the hair receiver showcased at the Glengarry Pioneer Museum is made of wood. Nevertheless, once a sufficient amount of hair was stuffed into the hair receiver through the hole on the cover, the hair was used in a variety of ways. Pioneers did not waste anything - not even fallen hair. They stuffed pillows and seats, and also handcrafted intricate floral designs. The delicate flowers were woven into a horseshoe shape, open upwards, as a gesture to the Heavens. Oftentimes, a picture or flower containing the passed relatives hair would be placed in the center as a gesture of remembrance.

This particular wreath was donated to the Glengarry Pioneer Museum by Hugh Lothian in 1963. In addition to the detailed flowers containing both brunette and blond hair, there are some bead embellishments attached throughout the piece. The hair wreath is contained in a wooden box frame with a glass cover. With the exceptionally meticulous work put into this piece, I cannot help to stop and gaze at this wreath every time I enter the Star Inn. Come take a look for yourself!

(Hair Receiver)