Early 20th Century Blonde Multi Rhinestone Comb

Ref: AN-0808-008

This beautiful comb is made from a transparent form of celluloid which is the colour of pale cider. It is made in an asymmetrical floral design representing flowers and foliage which are encrusted with blue and green rhinestones.

There is one green rhinestone missing but this is difficult to detect without very close inspection. The asymmetric design and naturalistic motifs show Art Nouveau influence.

Size: 5½ x 3¼ ins (approx 14 x 8 cms)

£20.00

Early 20th Century Faux Tortoise Openwork Comb

Ref: AN-1008-004

A late 19th or early 20 century faux tortoiseshell hair comb which shows Art Nouveau influence in the use of the butterfly motif in the openwork decoration at the base of the heading.

Art Nouveau is a stylistic movement which makes much use of naturalistic motifs.

Size: 5½ x 3 ins (approx 14 x 7.5 cms)

£25.00

Pre-ban Genuine Tortoiseshell Mottled Mantilla Comb

Ref: AN-1108-002

This comb is of the type known as a Spanish or mantilla comb because it resembles the traditional ornaments worn by Spanish ladies with their native dress.

The production of the opera *Carmen* led to a fashion for high Spanish combs in the 1870s, and this one probably dates from that period. It is made from one large solid piece of natural shell which is highly polished and beautifully mottled and translucent in parts.

These high combs were placed in the hair in such a way as to be visible from all angles. The last picture shows a selection of fashionable combs of the 1880s.

Size: 4½ x 7 ins (approx 11 x 18 cms)

£35.00

Art Nouveau Gilded Peacock Hair Comb

Ref: AN-1008-012

A late 19th or early 20 century faux tortoiseshell hair comb which shows Art Nouveau influence in the use of the gilded peacock motif in the spectacular decoration of the heading.

Art Nouveau is a stylistic movement which makes much use of naturalistic motifs and the peacock was one of the favourites. This one is further embellished with blue and white rhinestones to represent the eyes of the peacock’s tail. 3 small clear stones are missing.

The large iridescent green cabochon in the centre was popularly called a peacock stone because of the resemblance to the colours found in genuine peacock feathers.

Size: 3¾ x 4½ ins (approx 9.5 x 11 cms)

£30.00

Black Celluloid Lacy Mourning Comb

Ref: AN-0901-018

This high topped black celluloid comb is of the type known as a Spanish or mantilla comb because it resembles the traditional ornaments worn by Spanish ladies with their native dress. It has a high heading adorned with open scrollwork surrounding an oval cartouche. It was probably worn for mourning.

Victorian etiquette was very strict and decreed that in deep mourning, the widow and close relative of the deceased must dress in plain dark garments with a long veil hanging from the bonnet.

This mourning dress is illustrated in the final picture which shows the costume of a widow. Only ornaments of dull dark materials like Whitby jet were allowed but other dark materials such as black celluloid were often used as substitutes.

Size: 5 x 5¼ ins (approx 13 x 14 cms)

£40.00

Elaborate Mid Victorian Vulcanite Tiara Comb

Ref: AN-1008-023

This wonderful tiara style hair accessory in carved vulcanite comb dates from the mid Victorian period of 1860-1880. This is a particularly elaborate example and has several large roundels and balls raised up on spikes. One minor issue is a split in one of the jet balls atop the tiara which needs to be replaced.

Here we have a classic hinged mid Victorian hair comb. The main feature in this type is that the heading is adjustable, being attached to the prongs by a flexible hinge of gilt metal, which allows it to rotate through 90 or more degrees. This enables the ornament to be adjusted to various positions within the coiffure. Such combs may be worn either in the back of the hairdressing or above the forehead as a tiara. The final picture shows a sitter with a large tiara comb decorated with balls worn in this manner.

Size: 5½ x 3½  ins (approx 14 x 9 cms)

£120.00

Pre Ban Genuine Tortoiseshell Early 19th Century Comb

Ref: AN-1008-024

This handsome genuine tortoiseshell comb is from the early 19th  century. At this time the fashionable coiffure and the accessories used to adorn it had become extremely high and complex. Great stiffened loops of hair, often false, were placed upon the crown to give height to the dressing.

Tortoiseshell was a very popular material for these combs, which was often carved with great beauty and skill. This one is made from one large solid piece of natural shell which is highly polished and beautifully mottled and translucent in parts. It has a simple fluted shell like design in which the natural colouring of the material has been very effectively used by the artist.

This fantastical hairdressing is shown in the accompanying illustration from a fashion plate of the 1830s. Acting partly as a support for all the loops of false hair and other ornaments, many coiffures featured a high Spanish-style backcomb placed at the rear of the dressing. The final picture shows a contemporary pastel portrait of a fashionable sitter with a similar large comb.

Size: 7½ x 6½  ins (approx 19 x 16.5 cms)

£120.00

Victorian Hinged Gilt Metal Balls Comb

Ref: AN-1008-025

This wonderful hinged brass tiara type comb dates from the mid Victorian period of 1860-1880. These combs decorated with balls were known as peigne Josephine from a style made popular by the wife of the Emperor Napoleon I. They were produced in very large numbers in Victorian times, and appear in a wide variety of materials and styles. In many examples the ball in the centre is larger, with the others graduated in size, but here they are all equal.

One salient feature is that the heading is adjustable, being attached to the prongs by a flexible hinge of gilt metal, which allows it to rotate through 90 or more degrees. This enables the ornament to be adjusted to various positions within the coiffure. Such combs are of the type which may be worn either in the back of the hairdressing or above the forehead as a tiara as shown on the mannequin.

Size: 4¾ x 3¼  ins (approx 12 x 8.5 cms)

£90.00

Late Victorian Back Comb with Gilt Metal Heading

Ref: AN-1008-026

This is a nice quality back comb dating from circa 1890 to 1910. This type of hair accessory was specifically designed to be worn at the back of the hairdressing above or below the chignon. It is usually identified by a deep curve made to fit the skull. These combs are usually wider than they are high and have an elaborate heading or top decorated in some way. This handsome example is of celluloid faux tortoiseshell with a gilt metal heading design decorated in amber rhinestones. This comb is typical of a class of jewellery favoured by women with more conservative tastes.

Size: 2½ x 4½  ins (approx 6.5 x 11.5 cms)

£30.00

Clarified Horn Twisted Loops Mantilla Style Comb

Ref: AN-1008-027

This wonderful clarified horn comb dates from the Victorian period when the most elaborate hairstyles were in vogue and hair accessories were large and chunky. It is known as a Spanish or mantilla comb because it resembles the traditional ornaments worn by Spanish ladies with their native dress. The use of the very tall Spanish comb has a very long history of use. This one probably dates from the latter part of the 19th or the beginning of the 20th century. The production of the opera Carmen led to a fashion for high Spanish combs in the 1870s,

Size: 6 x 4 ins (approx 15 x 10 cms)

£50.00