Report from the archive

Report from the Krusenstiernska archive

In the 19th century and a little into the 20th century, it was very common to preserve locks of hair and make objects from hair. In the parish of Våmhus in Dalarna, an extensive business developed where so-called hair scythes performed hair work locally and on trips both in Sweden and abroad. Hair is very resistant to age. There are several examples in the family archive, mainly locks of hair from one's own family. Hair from beards also occurs.

One photograph shows two thin unfinished braids and loose unprocessed hair belonging to Louise Amalia Charlotta, born von Baerenfels-Warnow (1792-1870), mother of Louise and Hermina, whom we have told about earlier. The other photograph shows a watch chain, which belonged to the founder of the family archive Philip Herman (1875 – 1938, nephew of Louise and Hermina), and which is made from the hair of mother Carolina (born Wibeck). Were the women themselves the ones who did the hairwork, according to legend?