A striking Victorian mourning hair comb with scalloped profile

CONDITION: good vintage condition with acceptable wear for age

SIZE: 3½ x 3½ ins (9 x 9 cm)

APPROXIMATE DATE: 1850s – 1870s

MATERIALS: moulded rubber

DESCRIPTION:

Here is a striking Victorian hair comb which was probably used for mourning. It is made with nine integral tines. It has a moulded design with a scalloped profile and is further embellished by an arch of half balls placed around the top arch. These “balls” decorations are one of the most popular themes in Victorian hair combs and are found in a wide range of materials.

The material is probably dark dyed cowhorn or possibly an early hard rubber example.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

The importance of Victorian mourning etiquette upon the production of jewellery and personal ornaments was very marked. This etiquette decreed that in deep mourning, the widow and close relative of the deceased must dress in plain dark garments. The only ornaments allowed to be worn at this time were those of jet, which is a natural material found in Whitby, a small town on the East coast of the UK. In order to extend the supply of jet when it became exhausted, various other materials were employed. These included dyed cowhorn, hard rubber and synthetics like celluloid.