19th Century Fashion - Hair Combs

We recently purchased this gold hair comb composed of diamonds and baroque pearls in a floral style. This piece is from the mid-1800’s, and is made of silver and topped with gold, a technique typical of the time. The floral motif was very popular, and can be commonly found in pieces from this period; but the addition of the large, irregularly shaped baroque pearls makes this piece stand out.

Combs and other hair adornments were all the rage in the mid-1800’s. Women loved to decorate their hair with brooches, tiaras and all things sparkly. Interestingly, most of the hair ornaments from this era had detachable fixtures so that they could double as a brooch or pendant.

Hair ornaments are no longer a style of the past. They are making a comeback today with the recent trend of headbands, feathers and hair combs embellished with beads and sequins found on young celebrities such as Scarlett Johansson and Leighton Meester.