BONNER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY & MUSEUM
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Human Hair Harp
Making shrines and jewellery out of human hair was already a hot hobby in the Victorian age. Exchanging locks of hair with your friend, family member, or lover was as common an act of affection as, say, liking a pal’s Instagram pic today.  Even Napoleon got in on the trend, and requested that his hair be woven into bracelets for his relatives to remember him after his passing. Families would go to great lengths to have craftspeople make up intricate scenes paying homage to their kin, creating heirlooms for generations to come. 
This harp is made of human hair from Jennie Whitaker (Claire Gorsline's mother) in the late 1880's and has been encased in a gold metal frame.   
                                                                                                
Donor: Mrs. Claire Whitaker Gorsline
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  • About
    • Mission
    • Donors & Sponsors
    • Board & Staff
  • Visit
  • Exhibits
  • Programs
    • Signature Events
    • Education Programs >
      • School Tours
      • Traveling Trunks
      • At Home with BCHS >
        • Young Explorers (0-10)
        • At Home Historians (11 and up)
      • Project-Based Learning
    • Oral Histories >
      • Submit Your Story
    • Historic Driving Tour
    • Historic Walking Tour
  • Collections
    • Connecting the Past to the Present >
      • Publications
    • Podcast: North Idaho Nuggets
    • Object Identification
    • Newspapers of Bonner County
    • Special Collections
    • Collection Based Research
    • Historic Preservation
  • Support
    • Membership
    • Sponsorship
    • Volunteer
    • Shop Museum Guild
    • Donate an Artifact