Mourning bracelet

1850-1880

Place madeUnited States, North America

Hair, metal

Overall: 3/4 x 3 x 1 in. ( 1.9 x 7.6 x 2.5 cm )

Gift of Sarah Lathrop Hunter

1933.137a.1-2

This bracelet is woven from the hair of Sarah Eayers Davis, Phebe Ann Davis, and Matthew Livingston Davis. Matthew Davis, a New York journalist and close friend of Aaron Burr, was in attendance at the 1804 duel in which the latter shot Alexander Hamilton. Davis later published Burr's private papers in two books.

DescriptionBrown plaited hair mourning bracelet (.1) with metal clasp fastener and security clip at the center; the overall design is plain plaiting; the clasp has a padlock style lock (.2) which opens and slips through the clasp.

ClassificationsJEWELRY