Featured Japanese tortoiseshell comb-an ethical collection?

Hi all, another exciting package arrival! This set of Japanese blond tortoiseshell comb and hair pin came as FREEBIE with my vintage coral purchase !It’s hard to believe such quality items came at no cost right? The dealer (also a friend and I have been buying old corals from her for half a year) said she got no buyer interest for these combs and hairpins and she had a bunch of them unsold, so she just sent me a set. The photos don’t do justice, this comb is just simplistic elegance at finest… and so satisfying when held in hand…it’s unbelievable thick and heavy….

but my concern is, would it be ethical to collect these combs? Based on my research these have been in production since 19th or earlier- VA has some examples dated likewise. But have Japanese makers stopped making similar combs with tortoiseshell then? If these combs are mostly antique, i.e. early 20th, then I would be happy to collect more in different shapes. If not, I would be still glad that I have came cross this one at 0 cost.

Thanks!

 

Nice set, beautifully minimalistic, which makes it very Japanese.
Are you sure they are tortoiseshell? Japan has been making celluloid faux tortoiseshell items since the late 19th century.

 

Kushi comb

 

With matching kogai (stick).

 

Making a nice Kanzashi set.

 

Oh! I love it when you all talk dirty!

Debora

 

Hi AJ, yes I have checked them under UV light, in comparison to my celluloid comb which came from Japan too, all of them react to UV light but celluloid's glow tends to be pale greenish, while tortoiseshell displays brighter bluish glow In addition, the set suffers from few bites but in good shape overall

 

I thought kanzashi is something different from that stick? Although they all go through hair. My favourite type of kanzashi is the one with coral bead at the top. Always dream one but the huge coral bead will make the price ten times higher

 

Seeing this pic and I really want to collect them all…in different shades but only plain shell…

 

Afaik kanzashi is the general name for Japanese hair ornaments.

 

Exactly!




‘but now I have to look up this new Japanese term “Afaik” IDK

 

And I have to look up this new Japanese term "IDK".

 

And I just want to post paintings by Uemura Shoen, most famous female artist in Japan during late 19th to mid 20th century… never a fan of Japanese jewelry before, but the way she painted these tortoiseshell combs are just delicious and you won’t know how beautiful they could be unless you actually hold one in hand… what’s more, I got mine for free!

 

I've posted before that the Japanese still make new tortoiseshell items for sale because Japan does not enforce their agreement to stop production after their "reserves" are exhausted.... Since the 90s. They also continue to make traditional forms. So you would really have to research what the antique and new look like. I only know a little of what the western style stuff looks like, so I couldn't help you here.

 

Yes that’s my main concern in this post. I have seen lots of vintage ones and that can be told based on style, but as you siad Japan is known for making stuff like they used to since like 1200.

but I also find out that the price of newly made tortoise products in Japan is insanely high, i.e. £50 for a comb like mine, while bitten old combs are sold in kilograms on antique market. So that would be a good indicator. Still, the price for a 100-year-old piece and 50-year-old comb would be the same, that would only guarantee it is not made in the past decade.

Now I’m confident to say my purchase won’t support the illegal industry today, but it would be more reassuring to stick to antiques when I could. Maybe only buying those in poor condition?

 

just checked a shop with a brand new plain tortoiseshell comb listed at…not £50…but, £500… that’s crazy!

 

Such prices are laser-aimed at those with way too much money, an' a commensurate dearth of gray-matter...fact!

 

The authentic antique tortoiseshell cameos are very comfortably in the thousands. Ebay bans the sale of all of the real stuff but obviously it is still listed (intentionally or not). You always have to laugh when you see one listed with no material defined, or "faux" or "celluloid" and then priced at 6 grand (as this one was when it was on eBay) as if they don't know (and price accordingly) exactly what they're selling.

 

Hardly a collection...but these 4 items came with my uncle Leonard from Japan in 1952 at the end of our occupation. I have no information about them aside from that. Pic 3 is under UV light. I'll post detailed pics of each, with descriptive text, in Jewelry soon.