Faux pear hair ornaments dating from the 1980s

CONDITION: good vintage condition with expected wear

SIZE: headdress 4½ ins diameter (11 cm); stick 5½ ins (14 cm); combs 2 ins h x 3 ins w (5 x 7.5 cm)

APPROXIMATE DATE: mid century

MATERIALS: metal, celluloid, faux pearls

DESCRIPTION:

Here is a set of hair ornaments dating from the 1980s. First we have a circular headdress of the type which is more typical of the mid century. It comprises an openwork trellis of gold coloured wire, scattered across with faux pearl beads. A border of these same pearls surrounds the circumference. It has a small comb to hold it in place and a metal bar with a faux pearl tassel on one end.

The matching faux pearl side combs are also typical of the 1980s with their top border decoration.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

The costume jewellery industry flourished in the 1980s, and women experienced a new freedom and confidence to wear frankly fake fashion jewellery. In fact, the bigger and glitzier the better!

The fashion hallmarks of the decade were big shoulders, big hair and co-ordinating costume jewellery. Hair was teased and ratted out, and this ‘big’ hair cried out to be balanced by glitzy jewellery in gilt settings with huge fake looking stones. Hair accessories of the period were certainly neither small nor delicate!