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Daguerreotype Brooch, about 1850
This may have been used in mourning and may memorialize the gentleman depicted on the brooch.Earlier mourning brooches included watercolors of likenesses of the deceased but daguerreotypoes, our first real photographs, records the extraordinary image of the deceased.The bit of hair on the back of the brooch may be the hair of the gentleman depicted but this cannot be verified.The curator has seen few brooches set with photographs, either daguerreotypes orthe later tintypes; this is a rare surviv…
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Bracelets, about 1850
Woven hair jewelry was made as sentimental jewelry from at least the 1830s until late in the century but is most popular from 1845-1860.These bracelets could easily date anywhere in that era.The hair used in the creation of these bracelets is very coarse and is likely animal hair.It is possible that these were made for use in mourning.The hair is woven in bow know fashion, suggesting interwined lives and love.The jet bead in the center of the medallion could well indicate mourning or half mourni…
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Coral Earrings, about 1910
These are odd earrings- they are very poorly carved and are very low quality cameos.The setting into which they've been placed seems makeshift and perhaps even a repair or replacement.It seems plausible that these are early twentieth century souvenir pieces from Italy.
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Masonic Pin with Case, 1865
Research indicates that this Masonic piece represents the Royal Arch Masons.Characteristics include the keystone shape and jewel decorations.In 1855, Fowle was Master of Mt. Tabor Lodge, East Boston, Massachusetts.The Freemasons are the world's largest fraternal organization.What is known as modern Freemasons began in 1717 in England; however, the history of the legend of the Freemasons dates far back to biblical times with the building of King Solomon's temple and written evidence of the Freema…