Featured ladies large hair thingy

something else i found yesterday in a 50p box

thinking it might have a little bit of age, details look carved to me

quite large 5 inches by 4 inches

thought horn at first, but perhaps celluloid ?

any thoughts appreciated

 

It's a comb or peineta. Early ones were tortoise. Later ones plastic.

Debora

 

As you say, could be horn.

 

Hmmm, the color swirls make it appear plastic to me...? But WDIK, lol.

 

But on clicking 'full size version', the striations make me think maybe horn??? It's a LOVELY comb, Charlie!!

 

My vote is for horn, buddy.

 

also horn......!

 

Charlie, when I run into these combs at estate sales, antique stores, etc. 99.9% are celluloid or plastic. Plastic made to look like faux tortoise shell was used a lot.

There are a handful of horn ones (currently 14 on Ebay if you search "antique horn hair comb") compared to over 400 for "Antique plastic hair comb" or 300 for "antique celluloid hair comb."

Just having seen a zillion of these over the years, plastic or celluloid would be my thought from your photo.

The higher value ones have rhinestones, some getting quite elaborate, although prices are down compared to 2-3 decades ago.

Looks like yours is in excellent condition which is nice.

 

The striations are so regular; I'd think plastic. Or, if you prefer, "faux tortoise shell."

Debora

 

Thanks for the great info Lucille, I'd be just as happy with celluloid as horn, as long as some work has gone into it and it has a little age. Struck me a bit better than a modern type of hair thingy

 

Charles......take a spy glass to the open carving here.....
I'm seeing fibres in the cut areas..........
I say this comb is a natural material....

 

i think thats dead lice legs !

whatever it is i think its been carved in some form

 

that's horn.....

 

It started as one of a pair.

 

And here's one I bought earlier.

 

Nice, bit more ornate that one

Presuming they are for holding hair buns etc in place

What's that one made from obb ?

 

Not my area of expertise but I know they wore those in Spain and South America into the 1930s, believe it or not, hair net and all. This one seems horn to me.

 

Mine is for a mantilla, and probably tortoiseshell. Ma had one, she'd wear a mantilla to mass. Yours are for pinning up or back hair - sometimes one went either side of the face.

 

I used to have very long hair and when I twisted it up into a bun the 2-prong combs held it very well. Combs like yours @charlie cheswick can't hold the hair up but they slip in well to function as an adornment.

Very nice comb, I sell combs and I would be happy to have that one in my stock

 

Thanks Marie, that's very helpful and good to know