🪮 What was it used for?
Back in the Victorian and Edwardian eras, people saved the hair that came out during brushing instead of throwing it away.
They would:
Push loose hair through the hole into the jar
Collect it over time
Reuse it to make:
Hairpieces or buns (“rats”)
Pompadours
Even small keepsakes or crafts
It sounds strange today, but it was completely normal grooming practice at the time.
Where you’d usually find it
Hair receivers were typically:
Part of a dresser set (with matching brush, comb, powder jar)
Kept on a vanity table or dressing table
Made of ceramic, porcelain, or glass, often hand-painted
Could it be anything else?
Less likely, but possible alternatives:
Toothpick holder (usually open top, not with a lid hole)
Potpourri jar (would have ventilation holes, often multiple)
String holder (hole used to pull twine—but design is usually more utilitarian)
The single centered hole + floral vanity style strongly points to a hair receiver.
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