Late Victorian wedge shaped hair comb in celluloid faux tortoiseshell

 

CONDITION: good vintage condition with expected wear

 

SIZE: 6 ins h x 3 ins w (15 x 7.5 cm) decorative part 3 ins h (7.5 cm)

 

APPROXIMATE DATE: 1890s – 1910s

 

MATERIALS: celluloid

 

DESCRIPTION:

 

The design of this pretty three pronged faux tortoiseshell hair comb is typical of the smaller and lighter hair accessories which were popular in the late Victorian and Edwardian periods. It has a tall wedge shaped heading with an openwork panel. This is filled with interlaced scroll work which has a watered down Art Nouveau look.

The collage photograph shows some examples of similar hair accessories taken from contemporary illustrative sources and reveals the manner and hair styles in which they were worn.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

 This type of ornament is often known as Spanish or mantilla comb because it resembles a smaller version of the traditional large shell ornaments worn by Spanish ladies with their native dress. In practice any comb which has a high upstanding heading or top which stands proud of the top of the head is often called a mantilla comb.

Changes in the manner of dressing the hair in the late 1800s led to a taste for smaller and lighter hair accessories than those which had been fashionable for the previous 20 years. The fashionable style was now the “Gibson Girl” look, where hair was dressed out over pads in a fluffy and feminine style with wisps escaping at the sides. With these softer styles the taste was for smaller ornaments, especially those with a light, openwork appearance.