A handsome late Victorian steer horn hair comb in the Spanish style

 

CONDITION: has been broken and repaired at some time in the past and has two small breaks on the heading. Recommended for display only

 

SIZE: 6 ins h x 4½ ins w (15 x 11 cm) decorative part 3 ins h (7.5 cm)

 

APPROXIMATE DATE: 1870s – 1880s

 

MATERIALS: steer horn

 

DESCRIPTION:

 

This lovely comb was obviously valued by its previous owner because it has been repaired in the manner used before the invention of our modern adhesives. Two pieces of horn have been welded together by riveting a small piece of metal to join them in the rear.

The comb has a high wedge shaped heading which has been worked into an attractive openwork design. 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. 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. Such combs are worn placed high on the head in order to allow the beauty of their ornamental cresting to be admired.

The collage picture shows similar hair ornaments taken from contemporary illustrative sources and the hair styles with which they were worn.