A collection of four late Victorian or Edwardian hair combs

 

CONDITION: comb #2 has a small break at the top otherwise good vintage condition with expected wear

 

APPROXIMATE DATE: 1890s – 1900s

 

MATERIALS: celluloid

 

DESCRIPTION:

 

A collection of four late Victorian or Edwardian two and three pronged combs and hairpins, all in celluloid faux tortoiseshell. Their light and delicate appearance is typical of the hair accessories which appeared around the turn of the 20^th century.

 

As shown from left to right in picture one:-

 

#1 measures 5¼ ins h x 2 ins w (14 x 5 cm)

 

#2 measures 5½ ins h x 2 ins w (14 x 5 cm)

 

#3 measures 5 ins h x 2½  ins (14 x 5 cm)

 

#4 measures 4 ins h x 1½ ins w (10 x 4 cm)

 

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Changes in the manner of dressing the hair around the turn of the 20^th century 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.

Simple two pronged combs and hair pins such as these were made in pairs, or sometimes sets with a larger matching comb. They could perform both an ornamental and a useful function, being used to hold the elaborate coiffures of the day in place as well as to adorn the hair. Hair pins like this are characteristically made in one solid piece of the material, which might be horn, tortoiseshell, or some synthetic like celluloid. They usually have only two or three tines and their top or heading is made in a simple openwork shape.