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Brooch with hair of George Washington and Martha Washington

Brooch with Hair
c. 1845
gold, hair
Brooch with hair of George Washington and Martha Washington
Brooch with Hair
c. 1845
gold, hair
Brooch with Hair c. 1845 gold, hair
Status
Not on view
Label Text

This brooch contains two different coils of hair. The lighter, yellow lock is believed to be Martha Washington's, while the brown hair at the back of the brooch is believed to be George Washington's. The brooch descended in the family of Mrs. Washington's grandson, George Washington Parke Custis.

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Datec. 1845
Geography Made - United States
Medium/TechniqueGold, hair
DimensionsOverall: 1 1/2 in. x 1 3/4 in. (3.81 cm x 4.45 cm)
Credit LinePurchased by the A. Alfred Taubman Acquisition Endowment Fund and partial gift of an anonymous donor, 2004
Object numberM-2778/A
DescriptionOctagonal gold brooch filled with a ringlet of hair of Martha Washington on top of the hair of George Washington, woven into a basketweave pattern. A straight pin fastener and catch is attached to the back.
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