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1/32 f/2.0 4.2 mm ISO 160

Sony F5321

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Photo replaced on 12 Aug 2018
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Pocket watch chain ...

Pocket watch chain ...
... made out of human hairs.

Camera details
Camera: Sony Xperia Z1 Compact mobile phone F5321
Exposure: 1/32 sec.
Aperture: f/2.0
ISO: 160
Focal Length: 4.2 mm (28 mm equivalent digitally zoomed 1.3 times, which then turns it to ~35 mm equivalent)
Lens: Clip-on macro lens (magnifying glass).
Editing: Snapseed & PicMonkey

Overview and background
This pocket watch and chain for it I have inherited. Unfortunately I do not know to whom exactly they belong to, and who's hairs has been used. When searching more on this subject, I discovered this chain design has been typical only around here in Finland (and maybe also in Russia and Sweden). Web pages written in English usually refers to somewhat different chain design, which seem to be used especially when mourning a dead family member*. This made me think that in "good old times" people had much grander and more profound approach to life in general. They mourned more visually and longer when it comes to social signs and traditions. And people also paid a lot of attention on details.

Pocket watch chain Pocket watch chain ...

*UPDATE: Although, this morning I found a page where it is said the pocket watch chains made out of hairs were not used only when mourning someone. It was more like a gesture of love. A woman could make a chain out of her hairs to give it to the man she loves deeply:
www.mercurynews.com/2010/06/21/whats-it-worth-watch-chain-made-of-hair

And soon after even that became commercial... =/

Au Cœur... diagonalhorizon, Gudrun, Erhard Bernstein, Annemarie and 19 other people have particularly liked this photo


29 comments - The latest ones
 Valfal
Valfal
What a beautiful item they made out of hair! Thank you for sharing the history behind this special watch chain, Sami; stunning macro capture!
6 years ago.
Sami Serola (inactiv… club has replied to Valfal
Thank you, Val.
6 years ago.
 Xata
Xata club
This is very touching and reflects the diference with now and explains why older people (I include myself) don't feel so comfortable with actual disposable values...
In my country we still mourn the old way, well... in small villages and with ancient people, the young one dont give a damm about it for most of them.
6 years ago.
Sami Serola (inactiv… club has replied to Xata club
Obrigado, Isabel. Sometimes the old ways can be seen very formal and obligatory, but as traditions they also provide stability and consolation.
6 years ago.
Xata club has replied to Sami Serola (inactiv… club
So true...
6 years ago.
 Chrissy
Chrissy club
WOW, was für ein Schmuckstück!
6 years ago.
Sami Serola (inactiv… club has replied to Chrissy club
Danke schön, Chrissy =) No practical use these days, but a treasure to keep it is.
6 years ago.
 neira-Dan
neira-Dan club
Très jolie tresse , originale et bien captée; c'est stupéfiant de savoir que ce sont des cheveux humains ; une tradition touchante , comme garder une boucle de cheveux de ses ancêtres ou d'une personne aimée
6 years ago. Edited 6 years ago.
Sami Serola (inactiv… club has replied to neira-Dan club
Merci beaucoup, Dan.
6 years ago.
 Percy Schramm
Percy Schramm club
Great and beautiful shots - with much of history in the background. Well done, Sami !
6 years ago.
Sami Serola (inactiv… club has replied to Percy Schramm club
Thank you, Percy.
6 years ago.
 Erika+Manfred
Erika+Manfred club
Great memory!
Also a great photo
6 years ago.
Sami Serola (inactiv… club has replied to Erika+Manfred club
Thank you, Erika.
6 years ago.
 Marie-claire Gallet
Marie-claire Gallet
WOW, a very moving and beautiful memory, Sami !!! HMM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
6 years ago.
Sami Serola (inactiv… club has replied to Marie-claire Gallet
Thank you, Marie-claire.
6 years ago.
 trester88
trester88 club
Eine schöne Makro-Serie mit einer interessanten Geschichte!
6 years ago.
Sami Serola (inactiv… club has replied to trester88 club
Danke schön, Trester.
6 years ago.
 aNNa schramm
aNNa schramm club
Yes and see here >>> www.haarschmucksammlung.de

Zur Bedeutung des menschlichen Haares
Die besondere Wertschätzung verdankt das Haar den Vorstellungen um die ihm innewohnenden Kräfte. Das Kopfhaar gilt als Sitz der Lebenskraft; mit dem Abschneiden der Haare verliert man diese Kraft und gibt sich in die Gewalt und Obhut desjenigen, in dessen Besitz sie gelangen.

Engl.:
The importance of human hair
The hair owes its special appreciation to the ideas about its inherent powers. The scalp hair is considered the seat of the vital energy; with the cutting off of the hair one loses this power and gives oneself into the power and care of the one in whose possession they come.
6 years ago. Edited 6 years ago.
Sami Serola (inactiv… club has replied to aNNa schramm club
Well, there is a joke though... =)

"Mother, why daddy is bald?"
"Well, he has to think so much and hard at work."
"Then how come you have so long hair?"

But on my favorite fantasy books, The Farseer trilogy by Robin Hobb, the characters cut their hair when mourning someone. The greater the loss, the more hair they cut.
6 years ago. Edited 6 years ago.
Gudrun club has replied to Sami Serola (inactiv… club
As they say in Germany: wo der Geist waltet, kann sich kein Haar mehr halten;-)
6 years ago.
Sami Serola (inactiv… club has replied to Gudrun club
Ha ha ha! =D

Maybe it is actually a typical male symptom of being able to think only one thing at the time ;-) No multitasking...
6 years ago.
 bonsai59
bonsai59 club
Gut gemacht Sami! Und eine interessante geschichte dazu. ***
6 years ago.
 Jan
Jan
oh thats amazing !!
6 years ago.
 Taormina
Taormina
Cool! Ich habe so etwas ähnliches … für den Schlüssel an einem
Antiken Schrank...
6 years ago.
 Wierd Folkersma
Wierd Folkersma club
great use of hair and a beautiful watch too
6 years ago.
 protox
protox
Bravo, habe ich noch nie gesehen.
6 years ago.
 klaus 040
klaus 040 club
What a treasure from old times!
Thank you for explaining this souvenir of great value.
6 years ago.
 ╰☆☆June☆☆╮
╰☆☆June☆☆╮ club
Good work ;-)
6 years ago.
 Au Cœur... diagonalhorizon
Au Cœur... diagonalh… club
Génial !
6 years ago.

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