A pretty late Victorian hair pin or comb with articulated tines design

CONDITION: good vintage condition with expected wear

SIZE: 5 ins 5 x 1½ ins w (13 x 4 cm) decorative part 2 ins h (5 cm)

APPROXIMATE DATE: 1890s – 1900s

MATERIALS: metal, glass stones, celluloid

DESCRIPTION:

This comb is an excellent example of the smaller and lighter hair accessories which became fashionable in the period around the turn of the 20th century.

The comb has a curved heading in antiqued silver tone metal which is done in an openwork floral design. It is further embellished with two large oval glass stones resembling opals. The ornament has two tines of celluloid faux tortoiseshell. An interesting feature is that each tine is separately hinged and articulated to the heading, so that they can be moved independently in the manner shown in the photographs. This is a feature of many of these smaller combs and hairpins of the late Victorian and Edwardian periods.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

With the turn of the 20th century softer and more feminine hair styles became fashionable which encouraged the use of smaller and lighter hair accessories than hitherto. Those made of filigree or with a light and airy appearance, were the most popular.

The collage photograph shows some contemporary illustrations of the period which feature the fashionable hair dressing and the ornaments which were in vogue.