A situation can be produced that range acted given that a good particularly curated web site of sexual memories, comparable to a great trophy cupboard, hooking up Tennent in order to his roguish earlier in the day as a great ‘harum scarum youth’. Just like the Meghan Roberts enjoys exhibited in her examination of prisoners within the revolutionary France, informal items (for example butter snacks) was indeed imbued having ‘enormous affective power’, carrying the newest imprisoned mentally toward ‘safe embrace‘ of its families and you can belongings. 74 I would believe a comparable process was at play here. 75 In fact, as the Maya Wassell Smith has actually contended, the fresh new act away from handmaking was ‘psychologically transformative‘ whilst invests things ‘that have public and you may mental agency’. 76 When people created things, these people were not ‘merely thinking as a result of to make, however, impression owing to while making too’. 77 Tennent’s line of tresses might be discover within the the same method. While he may have acquired this type of stuff included in an excellent courtship customized, their next curation of these altered besides their meaning, but also the meaningfulness. Such as for example notches towards the good bedpost, the Tennent collection will bring an unique insight into just how one-man know and you may reported his intimate feel. 78
You to Tennent gone back to this distinctive line of tokens due to the fact passports to their bachelorhood is suggested by the labelling and you may real county of a number of the situations. Particularly, the new lock out of hair related to Skip Catharine Louisa Lawless keeps come curiously amended and come up with obvious their real lobby time: ‘Hair away from Catharine Louisa Lawless, 1820, Dublin November 101,820 or rather 10 o’clock morning endment is made. One opportunity is that the phrasing acted while the good veiled signal one to Tennent retrieved the hair on your head brand new morning just after a night-go out tryst. The latest amendment is generated in the same ink in addition to very first date is not crossed-out: new phrasing brings attention to brand new passage through of a single day. Additionally, it may merely reflect a need to checklist the fresh new context of your own provide truthfully getting posterity. Regardless of the cause, the newest modification implies a desire to very carefully checklist the brand new activities the fresh new locks was acquired. The correct curation of the things that is actually certainly important to Tennent. The collection was utilized as a means away from jollyromance reconnecting to help you earlier in the day memory can be advised regarding the physicality of one’s things. Tokens was basically applied, stroked and you will smelled from the its customers, tactilely transporting these to towns, occurrences and other people that kept cherished recollections. It is completely probable one a few of the deformed and you will unformed locks regarding tresses regarding the range is head outcomes regarding way too much touching. The hair on your head out-of Catharine Louisa Lawless, for example, might have immediately following become molded into the a neat plait.
A much deeper concern we could possibly inquire of the collection is actually their use. While it is extremely unlikely the fresh new collection is actually actually ever make because the a ‘gift‘ to some other, was it curated only getting personal play with? How is it possible you to others might have been privy to the lifestyle? Provided Eliza McCracken’s ideas with the retention regarding courtship merchandise and you may tokens discussed earlier, it is extremely likely that Tennent remaining the existence of it collection from the woman notice. A closer review of the items suggests that at the very least a couple of locks of tresses was basically inserted for the range in one date he had been courting his girlfriend. While product 9 regarding collection branded ‘Hair off Lucretia Belfast‘ is dated thirteen December 1826, items fifteen, owned by Ellen Lepper, is actually dated twenty-six Summer 1827. 80 Your own hair may potentially sit once the evidence of Tennent’s roving attention and/or cheating – things we are able to suppose he’d want to save yourself from his spouse.