Alexis Bittar 1870's 18K Gold with Woven Hair Anchor Pin

2" Long, .75" Wide. 18K gold anchor wrapped with woven human hair. From the 1870's, this pin is an 18k gold anchor wrapped with woven hair. Hair jewelry became a staple of the period as Queen Victoria was known to give jewelry made of her hair as gifts. Hair jewelry was often worn in remembrance of a loved one who had passed away. However, they were often made of lovers' hair for remembrance when one traveled far away from the other. The anchor symbolized hope in Victorian times, so it it most likely that his piece was a lovers' piece-keeping hope that one would be returned to the other.