Hair and yarn wreath attributed to Margreta Severin Tiedjens, New Holstein, ca. 1879.

This work combines two craft techniques popular among Victorian women in America--yarn wreaths and hairwork. The outer horseshoe-shaped portion is made up of a variety of colored yarns wrapped around wires to form flowers and leaves. Many of the flower centers are accented with black and white beads. The central element repeats the flower and leaf forms using blond, white, and pale brown human hair. The hairwork piece, also accented with black and white beads, is tied with a wide blue ribbon. Both elements are mounted together on white paper and framed in a shadow box made of gilt and dark wood.