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ANTIQUE EDWARDIAN CELLULOID HAIR COMB
EMERALD GREEN RHINESTONES
CIRCA 1900–1910
Beautiful antique ornamental hair comb dating to the early 20th century, approximately 1900–1910.
The comb is made of translucent amber-colored celluloid with a blue-green/dark green decorative surface layer.
The upper portion forms a graceful openwork fan or plume design composed of five elongated loops. Each loop is individually decorated with brilliant emerald-green rhinestones.
The green stones are especially striking against the translucent amber and blue-green celluloid.
One of the nicest features of this comb is its dimensional construction. The decorative loops are gently raised and curved rather than simply forming a flat silhouette, giving the ornament depth when viewed from the side.
MEASUREMENTS
Overall length: 6”
Decorative top: approximately 3” wide x 2.75” high
Three tines: approximately 3” long
CONDITION
Very good antique condition.
All of the green rhinestones appear to be present.
The celluloid remains attractive and translucent, with normal light surface wear consistent with its age.
The three long tines are intact.
Please examine all photographs, including the side views, as they show the unusual dimensional construction particularly well.
AGE
The circa 1900–1910 dating is consistent with documented museum examples of celluloid ornamental hair combs from the period.
The University of New Hampshire’s Irma G. Bowen Historic Clothing Collection, for example, catalogs rhinestone-decorated celluloid hair combs as Early 1900s, while The Henry Ford has a celluloid hair comb dated 1890–1910.
A beautiful surviving example of an Edwardian-era jeweled hair ornament, especially appealing for its unusual emerald-green rhinestones and translucent two-tone celluloid.