Today’s subject for Object of the Week may look at first glance like ordinary pieces of jewellery, but take a closer look – they’re made of real human hair.

IN ‘Les Miserables’ the sacked factory worker Fantine’s desperation leads her to sell her hair.

The event is graphically shown in the film of the musical. Fantine is fictional of course, but her story is far from unusual as poor women across Europe sold their hair, for a pittance – and not always willingly.

The hair was used in wig-making and as wigs fell from fashion in the 19th Century it was instead plaited into jewellery.

Walking past the jewellery cases at Whitby Museum on first glance you would never realise that these pieces were made from human hair – it is only closer inspection that their origins are revealed.

The use of human hair in jewellery was already established, with locks of hair placed inside lockets or brooches with clear compartments as keepsakes. Whitby Museum also has fine jet examples of these.

But by the 1850s, jewellery made entirely of human hair, such as necklaces or bracelets, were being made to commemorate weddings or deaths.

Hair was worked, boiled and dried, often around a mould, either by professionals, or at home using the many kits or instruction manuals available; then sent to a jeweller to have the mounts fitted.

In Whitby Museum there are examples of jewellery made from both horse and human hair, a stronger thread often used to strengthen the plaits.

Of course, Fantine also sold her teeth – the museum also has a set of false teeth made from real human teeth!

Whitby Museum is situated in the stunning surroundings of Pannett Park. The Museum is run by Whitby Literary and Philosophical Society, a registered charity, who were founded in 1823.

Within the museum you can explore stunning collections of local fossils, natural history, model ships and carved jet to name but a few.

The museum is presently closed, on government advice, but you can find out more by visiting their website www.whitbymuseum.org.uk or follow it on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

l Object of the Week is a regular feature in The Northern Echo.

If you have an object with an interesting, important, or quirky story to tell which you would like us to feature, contact Andrew White via email on andrew.white@nne.co.uk or leave a message on 01325-505054.