Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 7

King Charles I Antique 17th Century Locks of Hair from His Execution

About the Item

King Charles I (1600-1649) took to the English throne in 1625. An unpopular monarch with a tyrannical bent, he soon turned the powerful institutions of government against himself. His marriage to a Roman Catholic (Henrietta Maria) was another black mark in a Protestant kingdom. In 1642 the Parliaments of England and Scotland declared war on the king, under the leadership of Oliver Cromwell. The English Civil War raged for four years, ending in a Royalist defeat. Charles I surrendered at Newark-on-Trent in May 1646 and was beheaded the following year. Following his execution in London, Charles I’s head was sewn back on to his body. He was buried at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. Over time, the location of the king’s tomb was forgotten. It was only rediscovered in 1813, during renovation works to the chapel. Sir Henry Halford, then physician to King George III, carried out an exhumation of the remains that year. It was during this process that Halford clipped these two locks from Charles' body. A copy of Halford’s report of the process (titled An Account of what Appeared on Opening the Coffin of King Charles the First) accompanies this item. Halford writes: “The pointed beard, so characteristic of the period of the reign of King Charles, was perfect”. The hair remains well preserved and is stored in a 5.7 x 3.2 inch 20th century wooden box, lined with blue velvet. A wonderfully macabre curio connected with one of England’s most historically important rulers. Free global shipping. "Certificate of Authenticity" and our Lifetime Moneyback Guarantee of Authenticity included.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 0.5 in (1.27 cm)Width: 0.001 in (0.03 mm)Depth: 0.001 in (0.03 mm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    17th Century
  • Condition:
  • Seller Location:
    Jersey, GB
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU3812115055122
More From This SellerView All
  • Charles i Authentic Antique Strand of Beard Hair from His Execution in 1649
    Located in Jersey, GB
    King Charles I (1600-1649) took to the English throne in 1625. An unpopular monarch with a tyrannical bent, he soon turned the powerful institutions of government against himself. His marriage to a Roman Catholic (Henrietta Maria...
    Category

    Antique 17th Century Historical Memorabilia

    Materials

    Other

  • Admiral Horatio Nelson Authentic Antique Lock of Hair, 19th Century
    Located in Jersey, GB
    An authentic lock of Admiral Horatio Nelson's hair presented in a circular agate box decorated with a gold band Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson (1758-1805) was a British naval officer famous for his victories against the French during the Napoleonic Wars. Nelson was known for his superb leadership skills and somewhat unconventional strategies. Nelson was involved in battle almost constantly between 1793 until his death in 1805. During this time he lost the sight in his right eye at the Battle of Calvi in Corsica and lost his right arm at Santa Cruz in Tenerife. Admiral Lord Nelson is remembered as one of the greatest British war heroes in history. He died during the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. This is a generous, fine, blonde lock of Lord Nelson's hair. The hair is housed in a beautifully carved, circular agate box decorated with a gold band. The box measures: 4.5cm in diameter. A fragmentary enamel plaque attached to the lid of the box reads "N….05". The box is thought to date from between 1800 and 1810. This hair closely conforms to the other known examples of Nelson's hair and the box is similar in form to a locket which contained a lock of Nelson's hair that sold for £44,000 at auction in January, 2011. That locket also contained hair thought to have belonged to Lady Emma Hamilton...
    Category

    Antique 18th Century Historical Memorabilia

    Materials

    Agate, Other

  • King William IV Authentic Antique Strand of Hair, 19th Century
    Located in Jersey, GB
    King William IV took to the throne following the death of his brother, George IV. He’s remembered as a humble ruler, who oversaw fundamental reforms in...
    Category

    Antique 18th Century Historical Memorabilia

    Materials

    Other

  • King George IV Authentic Antique Strand of Hair 18th Century / 19th Century
    Located in Jersey, GB
    In 1811 King George IV (1762-1830) stepped up as Prince Regent in place of his father George III, who was no longer well enough to rule. An enthusias...
    Category

    Antique Late 18th Century Historical Memorabilia

    Materials

    Other

  • Prince Charles Authentic Strand of Hair, 20th Century
    Located in Jersey, GB
    Prince Charles is the son of Queen Elizabeth II and next in line to British throne. In 1984 he married Lady Diana Spencer in one of the most watched TV broadcasts of all time. Tragically, the princess died in a car crash in 1997. He remarried to Lady Camilla Parker-Bowles in 2005. In addition to his official duties, Prince Charles is a keen campaigner for the environment. He's also known for his passionate criticism of modernist architecture. His sons, Prince Charles and Prince Harry, and their glamorous partners have revived interest in the British monarchy around the world. This authentic half inch strand of Prince Charles’ hair...
    Category

    20th Century Historical Memorabilia

    Materials

    Other

  • King Edward IV Authentic Strand of Hair, 15th Century
    Located in Jersey, GB
    Edward IV (1442-1483) was the first English king from the House of York, a powerful branch of the Plantagenet dynasty. His coronation took place in the mi...
    Category

    Antique 15th Century and Earlier Historical Memorabilia

    Materials

    Other

You May Also Like
  • 17th Century Leather Case for a Chalice
    Located in Atlanta, GA
    A very rare and beautiful Italian 17th century case, box, to store a chalice. Beautifully crafted with embossed leather. A fantastic accent piece, whether displayed as a single piece...
    Category

    Antique Late 17th Century Italian Religious Items

    Materials

    Leather

  • 17th Century English Jacobean Carved Oak Bible Box.
    Located in Vero Beach, FL
    17th Century English Jacobean Carved Oak Bible Box. Period Jacobean solid dark oak bible box from the 17th century. The front is beautifully carved wi...
    Category

    Antique 17th Century English Jacobean Religious Items

    Materials

    Wrought Iron

  • Ebony Veneered Captain's Chest or Strong Box 'Coffre Fort', 17th Century
    Located in Amsterdam, NL
    A strongbox was a type of travelling chest and these types of boxes were more common in England than anywhere else where they were fabricated between 1660 and 1720. The earliest proo...
    Category

    Antique Late 17th Century Dutch Dutch Colonial Decorative Boxes

    Materials

    Brass

  • 17th Century Italian Ballot Voting Urn Carved Blue and Red Painted Wood
    Located in Milan, IT
    Antique Italian ballot urn shaped wooden box, carved and painted, coming from Tuscany, Monte San Savino near Arezzo in Central Italy. This ballot urn is an excellent example of a 17th century wooden voting box...
    Category

    Antique Mid-17th Century Italian Baroque Decorative Boxes

    Materials

    Pine

  • Antique Map of Germany from a 17th Century Pocket Atlas, 1685
    Located in Langweer, NL
    Antique map titled 'Nova Totius Germaniae descriptio.' Miniature map of Germany, from the pocket atlas 'Introductionis in Universam Geographiam tam Veterem...
    Category

    Antique 17th Century Maps

    Materials

    Paper

  • 17th Century Statue of a Maiden
    Located in Atlanta, GA
    An exceptional and stunning French 17th century sculpture of a maiden expertly carved from oak. Marvelous detailing with a beautiful face and movement to the robe.
    Category

    Antique 17th Century French Figurative Sculptures

    Materials

    Oak

Recently Viewed

View All