Art Deco Celluloid Overlay Hair Comb

Ref: DE-0208-027

This large and handsome Art Deco hair comb is typical of hair accessories made in the USA at this period. This pretty ornament dates from approximately 1910-1925 and is made in a technique called celluloid overlay whereby one colour is cast over another. In this case a deep salmon pink overlays a translucent base coating, best seen on the edges of the design and the tips of the tines.

The design features a number of radiating spokes or panels. This is a typical design of the period and is generally known as the sunray pattern.

Such combs were worn standing proud of the head at an acute angle so that they could be seen from all sides in a manner illustrated on the mannequin.

Size: 7 x 6½ ins (approx 18 x 16.5 cms)

£40.00

Art Deco Gothic Jet Hair Comb

Ref: DE-0708-001

This large and handsome Art Deco hair comb is given a very gothic look by its glossy black celluloid foundation.

This eye catching hair comb is made the iconic spokes or sunray design, with a scalloped outer profile. In this design spoke like lines or panels radiate outwards from the base of the heading.  Here they form a geometric border and are accentuated with lines of cut jet rhinestones.

This pattern has been variously interpreted to represent the spokes of a wheel or sunrays. Picture 6 is taken from a contemporary ad in the French EROS magazine and shows a model wearing a similar oversized hair comb in the popular asymmetric fashion.

Size: 7 ½  x 6  ins (approx 19 x 15 cms)

£60.00

Art Deco Gothic Jet Hair Comb

Ref: DE-0708-003

This large and handsome Art Deco hair comb is given a very gothic look by its glossy black celluloid foundation.

Along with the Spanish style fan shape the tall mantilla type wedge was one of the classic forms found in Art Deco period hair combs. Here it is given an asymmetric twist. In this design sinuous lines meander across a background of scrollwork.

Picture 7 is taken from a contemporary coloured postcard of the 1920s and shows a model wearing a similar wedge shaped hair comb in the popular asymmetric fashion.

Size: 8 x 3  ins (approx 20 x 7.5 cms)

£40.00

Large Black Lacy Spanish Comb

Ref: DE-0903-006

For an example of this same design in French ivory see DE-0903-012. This very large black Spanish style hair comb is made in one of the most popular and iconic Art Deco styles. It has a radiating design of spoke like lines, in between which are placed panels of lace like openwork.

This is a very typical motif in Art Deco combs, and in the art of the period. Some people interpret the spokes as representing the wheel, and therefore symbolising the Futurist fascination with speed and machinery.

This is a very large comb and similar to that which appears in the final illustration, from a coloured illustration in the French EROS magazine.

Size: 8 x 7 cms (approx 20 x 18 cms)

£40.00

Large Bright Red Openwork Spanish Comb

Ref: DE-0903-007

Bright cherry red is always an exciting and eye-catching colour for hair combs.

This unusually large example almost qualifies as a mantilla comb and would be very effective worn with a Spanish style costume for a pageant or fancy dress party. It has a wide fan shaped heading filled with scroll like openwork and indicating the transitional style which fell between the curves of Art Nouveau and the formalism of Art Deco.

Size: 7 x 7 ins (18 x 18 cms)

£40.00

Amber Comb with Blue & Green Rhinestone

Ref: DE-0903-008

Here is yet another example of the ever popular spokes or sunray design, this time in a mottled dark amber overlay. Celluloid overlay is where the ornament is made from two distinctly coloured layers. The layers then show one against the other when the ornament is held up to the light. Typically the effect is most noticeable on the edges of the design and the tips of the tines.

This pretty example has an asymmetric tendency which flows to the right, and the lines are accentuated by alternating rows of blue and green rhinestones.

The final illustration is taken from a coloured advertisement in the French EROS magazine.

Size: 6½ x 6 ins (approx 16.5 x 15 cms)

£40.00

French Jet Embellished Fan Shaped Hair Comb

Ref: DE-0911-003

The design of this comb incorporates a number of Deco favourites such as the radiating sunray or spokes which appear at the base of the heading. This is combined with the kinds of intricate latticework which appear on oriental screens for a very eye-catching and unusual effect.

The comb is made from glossy black celluloid which is then heavily encrusted with small black rhinestones of French jet. The fan shaped heading and the use of geometric motifs like triangles and chevrons is typical of the period.

Size: 6½ x 6 ins; (approx 16.5 x 15 cms)

£40.00

Celluloid Overlay Comb with Amber Rhinestones

Ref: DE-1008-008

This is a classic Art Deco comb made in the iconic “sunray” design whereby spoke like lines radiate outwards from the base of the heading. Some people interpret the spokes as representing the wheel, and thus symbolising the popular fascination with speed and machinery. Here the design is accentuated by the use of amber coloured rhinestones.

Early synthetic combs were often made in a two-tone casting whereby a shell of one colour is overlaid upon a core of another. Here, for example, a transparent core has been cast with a shiny black upper shell, producing an interesting topographical effect. This is best seen around the edges of the design and the tips of the tines.

Size: 5½ x 5 ins (approx 14 x 12.5 cms)

£35.00