Vintage Hair Combs Art Nouveau Matched Pair Hair Accessories

CONDITION: a pearl on one comb has lost its outer coating.

SIZE: 4½ ins h x 1¼ ins w (11 x 3 cms)

APPROXIMATE DATE: 1890 to 1900s

DESCRIPTION:

This lovely matched pair of hair accessories is made in the Art Nouveau style which became fashionable in the late 19th century. Art Nouveau was an important design movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is identified by curved and flowing lines and the use of organic themes derived from nature such as foliage, flowers and insects.

The tines of these two pronged hair combs or picks are made from translucent celluloid faux tortoiseshell. They are topped off by an elaborate heading in cast brass which features an intertwined design of leaves and flower heads. The design is further embellished by a dark amber coloured glass cabochon and a faux pearl.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

This lovely hair accessory pair is made in the lighter more openwork style which became fashionable in the late 19th century. The hair ornaments of this period are very much smaller and more delicate than the massive and important examples which we see in the mid Victorian period. This is in tune with simpler method of dressing the hair and a decline in the use of false hair to pad out natures deficiencies.

Matching sets of such hair accessories were extremely popular around the turn of the 20th century. The effect in wear can be seen in the photos on the mannequin.

Item ID: A13-02-001