18th century hairwork picture button with fishing scene
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
18th century
The design, executed on a translucent mica background, depicts three men fishing on a bridge set against an architectural backdrop. The image is composed using fine strands of human hair, a process noted for its exceptional tediousness and technical complexity, with additional hair clumps used to build up the texture and shading of the composition.
As a unique example of 18th-century wearable art, this button is reportedly one of a very limited number produced in this style, with similar pieces having been documented in institutional collections. The craftsmanship required to manipulate single strands of hair into a cohesive landscape highlights the high level of skill involved in such decorative work. While the specific dimensions are not provided beyond the broad classification as a large button, the object serves as a notable testament to the ornamental fashion of the period.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- Hair, mica, metal
Design
- Subject
- Three men on a bridge fishing with an architectural background
Identification
- Source note
- Described from a single auction-house listing published on Invaluable (reproduced with Invaluable's permission). Details apply to that one example; other examples of the type may differ, and the listing is supplementary evidence, not authentication.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.