Victorian Mourning Hair Wreath with Portrait

“Hair is at once the most delicate and lasting of our materials and survives us like love. It is so light, so gentle, so escaping from the idea of death, that, with a lock of hair belonging to a child or friend, we may almost look to to Heaven and compare notes with angelic nature, may almost say: ‘I have a piece of thee here, not unworthy of thy being now.’" – Godley’s Lady’s Book, 1860 This exquisite memorial wreath features some of the most unusual examples of Victorian hair work we have ever seen! It is obvious that whoever created this piece really took the time to showcase their creativity to honor their lost loved one.  At the center of the wreath is a photograph of a young woman taken some time between the mid 1850s to the mid 1860s. Sadly, there is no name on the back of the piece so we do not know who she is. Her name may be on the back of the photo, but we do not want to disturb the protective backing to find out.  Surrounding the portrait is a row of metallic green beads in