Franz Liszt - Lock of Franz Liszt's Hair, about 1886

Franz Liszt (Sopron, Hungary, 1811 - 1886, Bayreuth, Germany)

Lock of Franz Liszt's Hair in a Box, about 1886

Human hair; silver filigree box , 3.5 x 0.7 cm (1 3/8 x 1/4 in.)

Commentary

This lock of hair belonged to composer Franz Liszt. He passed away during a musical festival devoted to the works of Richard Wagner in Bayreuth, Germany, in July 1886. Isabella Stewart Gardner, who was also attending the festival, supported Liszt’s grieving friends and family. She ordered a wreath that was placed beside Queen Victoria’s at the funeral, and was the first to cast a shovel of earth onto his coffin.