By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-10-30 22:41:43 | Updated at 2024-10-31 17:32:57
20 hours ago
An Antiques Roadshow guest brought in her memorial rings for evaluation – only to discover that some of them had been made of human hair.
In a recently resurfaced clip from the PBS show from 2008, an unnamed woman presented her collection of antique jewelry for valuation by the late Barry Weber at an event in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Shortly after inspecting the accessories, Barry dropped the bombshell factoid.
'You know the sepia tones were little pieces of hair that they cut up and made into a paste and painted with that,' he said.
But despite the creepy curveball, the guest didn't look too shocked.
An Antiques Roadshow guest brought in her ring collection - only to find out that some of them had been made with human body parts
The sepia tones on the rings were made of pieces of hair that was cut up and made into a paste and painted with
She had previously explained that she had become fascinated by memorial rings as a child.
'I had read about a coffin ring once in a mystery novel when I was young, and I was intrigued by it and so I began a search and then noticed memorial jewelry,' she said.
Barry explained more about the tradition of the bygone era.
'It's an interesting custom,' he said in the episode.
'If you're not familiar with it, it seems a little creepy and odd and macabre, but there was a reality about death and the idea that people didn't always live that long and they were prepared for it and recognized it.
'One of the things that wealthier families did as a custom, particularly in the 18th century, was to leave arrangements in their will.
'A suitable amount of gold mourning jewelry would be made and distributed to the family members.'
Barry then finally shared his valuation of the items, which he believed were made in England.
The guest explained that she had become fascinated by memorial rings as a child
Families in the 18th century would distribute a suitable amount of gold mourning jewelry to each other
Barry valued the woman's entire ring collection at $40,000
'The whole collection as I see it today, at retail is $40,000,' he declared, before quipping, 'It pays to do your homework!'
Fans of the show were impressed by the collection, and were not put off by the incorporation of human hair.
'These are phenomenal,' one said on TikTok.
'I can't believe the skull and crossbones ring is that old,' another wrote, while a third added, 'What a great collection! Very cool.'
A fourth pointed out: 'People still do this today with ashes and hair. They make necklaces, rings, and more.'
'Wow, didn't know about the rings tradition but I've definitely heard of braiding the deceased's hair into pieces of jewelry,' said a fifth. 'This is fascinating.'
