A large and handsome Victorian Spanish mantilla style hair comb (does not contain any endangered materials)

CONDITION: good vintage condition with expected wear

SIZE: 6¼ ins h x 3½ ins w (15.5 x 9 cm) decorative part 3 ins h (7.5 cm)

APPROXIMATE DATE: 1890s – 1900s

MATERIALS: celluloid faux shell

DESCRIPTION:

Here is a beautifully marked Spanish style hair comb in celluloid faux shell. It probably dates from the latter part of the Victorian era when these large combs were in fashion. High topped combs like this were extremely popular in the later Victorian era during the 1870s and 1880s. This was due to the debut of the opera Carmen, which promoted a fashion for Spanish style combs with extremely tall headings.

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. Such combs are worn placed high on the head in order to allow the beauty of their ornamental cresting to be admired.

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.