Antique / Vintage Victorian 19th Century Woven Human Hair Mourning Watch ChainFor Your Consideration is an Antique 19th Century Watch Chain I purchased at a Central Ohio Estate Auction. Circa Civil War Era / Mid 1860s.This Woven Human Hair Watch Chain Measures Approximately 14" Long.This watch chain is very typical of the 1860's & 70's, in that it was probably made by a company that did mail order hair jewelry. Because of the popularity of hair jewelry by the late 1850's, many newspapers and periodicals, including Godey's Ladys Book carried advertisements for hair jewelry -- you would pick out the style you liked, and then send your (or your loved ones!) hair away to be made in the style selected. It was during the 19th Century that pocket watches and watch accessories reached its height. After 1810 waistcoats became shorter, tighter, and less prominent than the coat (then called a frock-coat) which lay over them. In some cases, the vest even served as a sort of foundation garment much like a lady's corset to cinch in a gentleman's waist.
During Queen Victoria's reign in England, her husband, Prince Albert, was known for his slender waist which set a fashion trend. Prince Albert started a new trend in wearing watches. He liked a simple chain attached to his watch, secured to his vest through a button hole, with the excess length of the chain draping across his vest. There were two main types of Albert Chain, the single Albert and the Double Albert.
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