Medallion containing Adela's hair

A braid of Adela Ostrolúcka's hair surrounds the letter A. It is preserved in a framed medallion that belonged to her mother, Alžbeta. The object commemorated her daughter, who died in 1853. Rather than a portrait, it contains material directly associated with the person remembered.

Hair, an initial and a surrounding frame make up the composition. Braiding gave the hair a deliberate shape rather than leaving it as a loose lock. The letter identifies Adela, while the object's provenance connects it with her mother. It differs from a piece of furniture or a book in serving as a personal memorial.

Before its museum presentation, the damaged frame was repaired. Conservation also included harmonising its colour and renewing the surface finish. Small elements carry the meaning here: the initial identifies a person, while the braided hair preserves a physical trace of her life.