Unusual Victorian Hair Mourning Buttons utilitarian sign The dark brown with gold

The dark brown with gold decoration leather-like covering on the wooden handles shows some wear

Mexican I believe and definitely with some years on him

and of course symbolic of heating things up

complete with 48 cards

making them to my eye and ideal duo

Unusual Victorian Hair Mourning Buttons utilitarian sign The dark brown with goldI've never seen the likes of these, which I believe are Victorian mourning buttons, made with blonde hair encased in finely wrapped and knotted blue cord and thread, silk I believe. One presumes these were made to be sewn to a garment perhaps like toggles on a shawl or coat but I'm not entirely sure. Whatever the case, quite unusual as far as I know, and feeling like literal capsules of another time (and specific person!), which could easily be strung