A collection of four traditional hair pins in antiqued gold tone metal

CONDITION: good vintage condition with expected wear

AVERAGE SIZE: 5 ins h x 1½ ins w (13 x 4 cm)

APPROXIMATE DATE: 1890s – 1900s

MATERIALS: metal

DESCRIPTION:

Here is a collection of four pretty metal hair combs or hair pins whose light appearance is typical of the hair accessories which appeared around the turn of the 20th century. They are made in antiqued gold metal in an openwork loops design wrapped in spiral wire work.

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.

The collage picture shows similar hair accessories taken from contemporary sources and indicates the hair fashions in which they were employed.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Simple two pronged combs such as these were made in pairs, or sometimes sets with a larger matching comb. They were worn throughout the 19th and early 20th century. 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, metal, or some synthetic like celluloid. They usually have only one or two tines and their top or heading in a simple shape such as a horseshoe or rectangle, sometimes with the addition of rhinestones or a little openwork decoration.