In the Edo Era, they adorned wigs and were made with tortoiseshell. In the modern era, they are made with metal and paste jewels. But both have their beauty, and this is how they are worn in a wig.
Barbaraanne's Hair Comb Blog
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Dear Barbaraanne:
You ought to write a book. I would buy it, with photos of all this neat stuff. But I guess it would be difficult to obtain publishing rights to a lot of the photos which were of pieces that eventually sold to other people.
I wonder how long you have been collecting.
Do you wear any of these pieces yourself? Could you recommend any sites with instructions in English and, failing that, at least good photos of some simple styles using kanzashi, or maybe a book of kanzashi hair styles? I already know a couple basic ones but I would like to try more (simple, so you really can wear it in daily life).
Thanks for posting all this terrific stuff. When my kid has finished his homework, I will read more in your archives.
Noelle
Noelle wrote: “But I guess it would be difficult to obtain publishing rights to a lot of the photos which were of pieces that eventually sold to other people.”
Aye, there’s the rub, as Hamlet says. If I made a cent off this blog, I’d be breaking copyright law because my use of photos would not be fair use, but I’d be making money off of someone else’s work. I can’t do that. This is a labor of love because in my “Why am I doing this?” post, the reason is not because I am menopausally insane. ;-P It’s because very few dealers recognize this art form, and it was part of every movement of Western philosophy and art since the beginning of time.
I can’t collect at the $50,000 level or whatever, but at least I can show that these artworks exist.
I have a set of Japanese Wedding combs made of Tortoiseshell very much like the picture. they were giving to me as a gift thirty some years ago that I would like sell.