Mourning Scene of a Woman Holding a Cornucopia and Branch

Artist Unknown (French)

CultureFrench

Dateca. 1795 (?)

MediumWatercolor and chopped hair on ivory

DimensionsOverall: 3 × 3 inches (7.62 × 7.62 cm)

Credit LineGift of Leila Cohoon/Leila's Hair Museum

Object number2025.95.3

On View

Not on view

Terms

DescriptionA woman in a loosely fitting white dress with a blue sash at her waist sits against a classical column. In her left hand she holds a fern-like branch. In her right hand, she holds a cornucopia. Beneath her is a checkered tile floor. Behind her, in the distance, a multi-masted boat can be seen.Exhibition History

Exhibition History

Leila's Hair Museum, Independence, MO, c.1986-2025 [1].

NOTES:

[1] While Leila Cohoon (1931-2024 ), founder of Leila's Hair Museum, started her collection in 1956, the works did not go on view until her museum opened around 1986. The museum closed in September, 2025. This work was one of many on display.

Provenance

Possibly with Leila Cohoon (1931-2024), Independence, MO, after 1956 [1];

With Leila's Hair Museum, Independence, MO, by 2025 [2];

Their gift to The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO, 2025.

NOTES:

[1] Leila Cohoon acquired her first piece of hair art in 1956. It is unclear how and when she acquired this piece. Possibly, she acquired this piece prior to the establishment of Leila's Hair Museum in 1986.

[2] Leila's Hair Museum was established in 1986. This work was in the collection of the Museum prior to its closure in November of 2025. At this point, works in the collection were gifted to different institutions, The Nelson-Atkins being one of them.

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