Schmuck aus Haar

The Art of Hair Braiding
Whether in literature, religion, healing arts, or as adornment – hair has always played a central role. The use of hair for art objects has been documented since the end of the Baroque period. The well-known Jakob Schiess from Appenzell, who is recognized far beyond the borders of the canton, is the youngest still-active hair braiding artist. Since a traffic accident in 1998, he has dedicated himself to this passion with great skill. At his suggestion, historian and Germanist Johannes Schläpfer has written a book about the craft of hair braiding that Schiess practices.
The book presents the individual steps from hair to finished piece of jewelry in words and images. At the same time, the author describes the significance of hair throughout history, explains the cultural-historical background of the craft, and portrays both living and deceased practitioners of hair braiding art.