Antique Hair Combs, ca 1880
Our Notes
What draws Emily to antiques is her curiosity for placing them in their social and cultural context. When she discovered this set of combs, their design drew her in, but once she spent time researching their attributes, she appreciated and loved them even more.
Their story begins with a mantilla hair comb that had been popularly worn in Spain for celebrations and pageantry . It is marked by a convex shape with an openwork crown that sits high on the head. This style had a surge of popularity in Europe starting in 1875, the same year that the opera Carmen was first performed in Paris. The Spanish-themed production featured mantilla combs, and boom, a style was reborn!
This dramatic silhouette was perfectly suited for the high buns and long hair popular in Victorian England. Perhaps, the smaller combs were for daytime use and the large was reserved for evening soirees, either way the set of three leaves us with endless possibilities.
ca 1880
Measurements, Materials & Care
Care
As our jewelry is worn, patinas will evolve, further personalizing them to each collector. Due to the nature of foiled jewelry, care should be taken in order to keep Larkspur & Hawk jewelry from becoming harmed. A few tips:
- Remove jewelry when applying lotions, soaps and perfume
- Remove jewelry before immersing hands in cleaning solvents or liquids
- Please note that oxidation may eventually wear off of rings, then return naturally
Shipping & Returns
Larkspur & Hawk offers shoppers to receive and live with their new pieces. If for any reason you are less than thrilled with a purchase, it may be returned for a full refund, unless marked as final sale. To qualify, merchandise must be postmarked within 14 days of the customer’s receipt and be in the items’ original and unused condition. All returns must include the original receipt. Larkspur & Hawk is not responsible for items lost during shipping.
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