Unusual Victorian Hair Mourning Buttons educational toys with pin holes in corners

with pin holes in corners as noted and some surface wear along the edges as evident and documented

I think the prowling posture is 100% perfect cat

and then adhered to the wooden base

with the old dry wood surface on the underside giving the best sense of the piece's age

Definitely worthy of  framing and hanging

Unusual Victorian Hair Mourning Buttons educational toys with pin holes in cornersI'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