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Gone Today, Hair Tomorrow

Juliette Barker looks at hair as a symbol of remembrance. How and why was it preserved? Who collects it? From May 2011.

From a single lock hidden in a drawer, to the practice of weaving hair into bracelets - or appearing in art and jewellery.

For centuries, hair has been used as a symbol of remembrance.

Historian and biographer Juliette Barker, traces these practices through history and talks to some collectors.

Nowadays, hair also offers us the chance to retrieve good quality DNA.

So could it return as a way to remember our loved ones and ancestors?

Producer Kevin Mousley

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2011.

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Fri 23 Aug 202400:30

Broadcasts

  • Mon 9 May 201111:00
  • Tue 5 Jul 201606:30
  • Tue 5 Jul 201613:30
  • Tue 5 Jul 201620:30
  • Wed 6 Jul 201601:30
  • Wed 17 Jul 201906:30
  • Wed 17 Jul 201913:30
  • Wed 17 Jul 201920:30
  • Thu 18 Jul 201901:30
  • Thu 22 Aug 202410:30
  • Thu 22 Aug 202416:30
  • Fri 23 Aug 202400:30