Featured Massive Japanese Tortoiseshell comb-Edo Period?

Discussion in 'Jewelry' started by shamster, Aug 7, 2025.

  1. shamster

    shamster Well-Known Member

    This gigantic beauty(14x6cm, 46 grams)arrived today and there’s a lot of questions I have with it.

    This type of tortoiseshell comb is very fashionable during late Edo period, and it is said that after 1820s smaller combs began to dominate. I can find two or three combs with silver edge tagged as Edo.

    However, mine is made of at least two layers of tortoiseshell, while the combs from the museum usually have only one thin layer. Would that mean mine was made later, maybe not Edo at all?

    Also, as you can see the teeth are seriously bitten, one of them is very thin and I would love to fix that. What should I use that will provide the strongest bond and best look? Resin, nail polish, wax, or shellac?
    e4c39fa99161a110b976934ab1fc86dc.jpeg 0cd7883a5e73f1a4ddfbb57b4afe2512.jpeg dec05d708b26426d0b0a28ef8538f8c9.jpeg 419d191c6f5a42e000008b1fa99e1581.jpeg f63e4ce4c1d9ef194ae0dfa79c3893a5.jpeg 5f02d55d9af1112f77b169f39dc3d3fb.jpeg
     
  2. shamster

    shamster Well-Known Member

    f908d2ed8ef2633bc79f50fee729da1b.jpeg
    it makes a great presentation on head, but I won’t wear it before the teeth are fixed!
     
  3. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Lovely Japanese minimalism. Would look beautiful with (silk) flowers.
    The Japanese often laminated tortoiseshell, also during the Edo period.
    This restorer uses dyed optical epoxy:

    https://trianglestrings.com/replacing-missing-tortoiseshell/
     
  4. shamster

    shamster Well-Known Member

    A Japanese site I found said the technique was used from mid-Edo. However, not sure if my comb has the possibility to be made before 19th century :playful: they seemed to favour single-layered comb at that time as well ( I prefer a clear, wide and thin comb too)
    337d1947a1f75d28413bc7e5e055e5d8.jpeg
     
  5. shamster

    shamster Well-Known Member

    1ae26c91bbae78121606878f5a22345c.jpeg
    I tried a bit epoxy glue on a few teeth that are too thin… for the one with most damage ( one layer was completely eaten) I am thinking about finding a donor comb and glue an entire tooth onto it :angelic:

    Also a few commercial restorers in Japan also use resin, but not sure how reversible is that
     
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  6. mirana

    mirana Well-Known Member

    You can dissolve epoxy with things like acetone but uhhh I would think it would damage the tort as well. :cyclops:
     
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  7. shamster

    shamster Well-Known Member

    I regretted using epoxy just a few minutes later and it’s all washed off now:bag: but I have pulled it into my hair and taken it off gently several times and nothing went wrong!
     
  8. shamster

    shamster Well-Known Member

    Also this makes me wonder …could it be tortoiseshell veneer on horn? 7cd5523d9656edc7f5f91d6a7cf391df.jpeg
     
    Any Jewelry likes this.
  9. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    no horn looks like that.... and the flea bites on the tines are consistent with shell..
    imo
     
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  10. shamster

    shamster Well-Known Member

    I mean the parallel lines beneath the surface layer, sometimes Japanese do veneer thin tortoiseshell onto horn or horse hooves as tortoiseshell are too expensive :angelic: just like gilt metal, but much stronger than that.
     
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  11. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    I don't know if I'd care. I'd be cheerfully putting it into my hoard and not worrying about it.
     
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  12. shamster

    shamster Well-Known Member

    I always have this anxiety when I receive something not ‘as new’, but after a few days I won’t care either :cat:
     
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  13. bosko69

    bosko69 Well-Known Member

    Maybe if you can find a sufficient amount of authentic but damaged pieces cheap,you'd have specimens to practice and perfect your skills on ?
     
    kyratango likes this.
  14. shamster

    shamster Well-Known Member

    I know someone who has a lot of unwanted broken combs and can send me for free :smuggrin:
     
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  15. shamster

    shamster Well-Known Member

    This dealer in Japan has a comb also made with laminated layers of shell and said Edo, but wider in shape, tho might be smaller overall 2079b84f131628e3987615c06c5541ea.jpeg
     
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