Featured Gigantic Tortoiseshell comb:how old it is?

I just received this big big tortoiseshell comb with my Japanese combs & hairpins! It’s 22cm long and 17cm wide. I have a rather big head so it does not look so large when put on my headstill the largest comb I’ve ever had!

Although it’s bought in Japan, the seller said it’s found in Europe. Can anyone shed some light on its possible age? Googled the photo and the results range from Georgian to Art Deco…

 

Yes, it is European. These high combs were made to suit elaborate 19th century hairstyles.
Dating combs without any ornamentation or specific period shapes is difficult, but my guess would be 1860-1880s.

 

Not bad at all! Would be happy even if Art Deco… it’s a must-have piece for antique T-shell jewelry collectors!

 

It's big enough for a mantilla comb; I'd have been thinking 19th century Spanish right off. It looks right at home with the asian ones.

 

Plain T-shell is the best T-shell I would welcome some extra carving or Maki-e on them, but the natural pattern is absorbing

 

It beats having it land on the pile for burying. They can't sell tortoise here at all in my area, new or old.

 

19th century Spanish combs were no bigger than combs from other European countries. And they were often much smaller than this one.

Some sellers also call big combs Spanish, even if they are clearly French, Austrian or Dutch. They don't know how fashions and regional dress evolve and they don't care to do any research.
Most of the tall and wide caps and hair ornaments that we have come to know as characteristic of regional European dress, only grew to such proportions after 1900.

An example from Seville, from an 1870s etching by Gustave Doré, with a modest comb:

 

I also saw this photo before, so Japan has produced similar combs under Western influence in fashion. I think Japanese also made a lot of fine jewelry in art nouveau & art deco style, and in the same era, of course

 

Even before I saw the title,her hair and makeup said 1920s. Her fan looks a lot older than the photo.

 

That's a lovely comb. And the photo of the actress wearing one of a similar size is a good find!

 

It’s actually kinda hard to find a lady from Art Deco era wearing a plain comb, most of them I found seem to wear those with openwork instead