Category Archives: English Hair Comb

What’s Around to Buy? :-)

Leave a reply


There are a couple of things on ebay, which haven’t ended yet, so I can’t put them on, but I will soon. However, I searched around and found some nice things. Here is a nice collection of Victorian combs, which is being sold individually by Antiques and Common Treasures on Ruby Lane.

I like the three tortoiseshell hairpins.



This is a totally gorgeous French Empire seed-pearl diadem on tortoiseshell, which you will notice is a bit curved up, so you can wear it as a tiara in the front of a bun on top of your head. It is in perfect condition, and selling for $695.



Something else I loved was a diadem comb top also from the French Empire period, which sold on ebay for $1027.50 on Dec. 29, 2008.



This Chinese-made ivory comb for the Victorian market is only selling for $145 on Ruby Lane. The decoration is three birds perched on a flower, and it’s 6 1/2″ high and 3 1/4″ wide. I’d say this is a good buy.



Finally, Christies is selling a set of two beautiful Belle Epoque shell hair pins with 212 diamonds between them, on platinum, c 1900. They will be sold on Feb. 9, est: $5,000 – $7,000.



This Greek Ivory comb, c. 350 B.C., with a letter of authenticity, and a fabulously carved woman’s face sold for $813 on Jan 20, 2009.

Willow Wands

Leave a reply


Made with .925-silver, agate, jade, and moonstone, this barrette is German, c. 1930. What makes it special is that in the literature highlights  of the Schmuckmuseum, Pforzheim, Fritz Falk, 2004, page 76, there is an illustration ofa Rene Lalique brooch that looks just like it, called Willow Wands. It is on sale at the Tadema Gallery in the $2500 – $5000 range.



In addition, at Christies, a suite of early 19th Century gold and turquoise English jewelry is being sold, bearing an estimate of 5000 UKP. The suite includes a necklace, earrings, a bracelet, brooch, and this gorgeous tiara.



Yes,every day my hairdresser comes to outfit me in the tiaras and dresses and hairstyles that go with them *cough*, but this painting by Louis-Marie Autissier (1772-1830) shows a lady in a blue satin dress with a Renaissance collar and a pearl-set gold tiara in her perfectly curled brown hair.

Some Combs (and a blue diamond) at Sothebys

Leave a reply

Here are two beautiful, signed Tiffany & Co. combs in diamonds and tortoiseshell. The first one is a platinum, seed pearl, and European-cut diamond hair comb c. 1910, sold for $11,875 on Dec 9.



The second is a set of two-pronged shell and diamond combs, set in platinum. c. 1910, sold for $25,000.



However, in every magnificent jewel auction, there is one breathtaking product of nature created before the beginning of time. Here, it is a rare, fancy, deep blue 10.48-carat diamond — flawless. There are no secondary colors. When a diamond is blue, carbon atoms have been replaced by boron, which is how the diamond absorbs its color. How you can put a price on such an object is beyond me, but it is estimated at $5 million. This is the drug, the dream, the Maltese Falcon. Who knows what the addicts who can buy this sort of thing will give up for it.



Two diamond and pearl tiaras

2 Replies

c. 1900, this pearl and diamond tiara was designed with garlands of open-work floral and foliate motifs. Est price: $176,000. The tiara may be detached in five parts and used as a diadem, a smaller tiara or as a pendant on a fine chain.

By family tradition this necklace was previously part of a tiara made by Fabergé in the 1860s and later redesigned as a neckalce by Buccellati in the early 1990s. It was owned by Countess Orloff Davidoff is the only daughter of Baron de Staal, late Russian ambassador to England, and was worn at her wedding. c. 1860. The necklace, pictured here, sold for $121,381 on 12 November 2008.

Some Beautiful Combs

Leave a reply

A tortoiseshell comb with intricate scrollwork and garnets by British arts-and-crafts movement master-jeweler Child & Child, with makers mark on the back and fitted case, sold for $691 in London.



This beautiful English 18K-gold carnelian cameo demi-parure, c. 1830, comes with a ring and earrings.



These late Edo Japanese combs sold for $1026. I love the flock of gold-maki-e flock of birds.



This art deco tortoiseshell Cartier comb bordered with enamel and diamonds, with case, has an estimated value of $4000 and will go on sale in Geneva on Nov 20.



When the Shah ruled Iran, his Empress Farah wore this tiara to her wedding, and it remained her favorite throughout her life.



This absolutely exquisite sapphire and diamond tiara is part of a demi-parure with a necklace and pin, c. 1830. The sapphires accent a floral-spray design. Lot estimate $500,000. This just takes my breath away.

Some Lovely Things on Ebay and Beyond

Leave a reply



Portrait of a Lady: This painting of the Parmese School, c. 1775, possibly shows Archduchess Maria Carolina of Austria, Queen of Naples and Sicily (1752-1814) with pearls and ribbons in her hair. It’s oil on cavas, going on sale in London on Sept. 28, est: $3500.



This is one of a pair of art nouveau tortoiseshell hair combs with plique-à-jour enamel flowers and foliate scrolling detail by Braquemond. There is scalloped 18K gold trim, and it is mounted in enamel. These combs formed part of a toilet set for Baron Joseph Vitta, who lived in Paris, and was an important art nouveau patron. c.1900. est: $50,000 – $70,000



This acrylic-on-paper painting of a nude with blue hair is by Wallase Ting, c. 1929, and is estimated at $9000. I love it.



This early 19th-Century silver gilt, diamond and sapphire tiara sold on ebay for $3000 on Sept 19. Congratulations to the winning bidder. It is set with 7-10 carats of natural cabochon sapphires, 3-5 carats of table cut diamonds, and nine large sapphires with a total weight of 15-20 carats.



These are two combs from Africa that just caught my eye. I love the expressions of the sculpture on top of the combs.



This pair of Edwardian tortoiseshell haircombs with diamonds on top have a curved design, as well as curved tines. They sold on ebay for $1800 on Sept 18 to a live auction floor bidder.



This  gorgeous coral diadem with leaves and flowers sold for $500 (great price) on Sept 16 at a live auction to u***g of ebay. Yay! And ebayer got it. Est: $600 – $800. Fabulous treasure.



Now, it’s time to die. This pink diamond tiara, and those pinks come from the Australian mines at Argyle. No one knows what makes a diamond pink. Anyway, I’m dying. It’s listed for $192,732 (I think it will go for more) in Hong Kong for an Oct 7 sale. There is a fancy intense pink diamond in the middle, probably from the Argyle tender. It was made by Garrard, and is set on a platinum band.



And here is a close up.



The pinks of Argyle (don’t let the size fool you), as well as the large D flawless white diamonds are nature at it’s most beautiful. It’s like a drug for diamond collectors and admirers. You just have to have it. I wonder who will buy this. I see it as Elizabeth Taylor-worthy.

Some Lovely Things on Ebay

Leave a reply


This beautiful ivory comb belonged to the seller’s great grandmother, and it was kept in perfect condition all these years. Imagine the love that kept this beautiful piece in its pristine state. The style looks like a Chinese import to the Victorian market to me but I’m not sure. Maybe it’s European made. Comments welcome. I loved it. It sold for $213.50 to Belva, one of the greatest hair comb collectors and historians in the country. Congrats, my dear friend.



This  ivory comb knocked me out.  I’d say c. 1880. The rose carvings are exquisite. I adored this one, too. I have to say I am not sure if it’s English made or Chinese made for the Victorian market. But fabulous, nonetheless. It sold for $280 on August 9.





The last comb that caught my eye was an Silver Edo comb with a remarkable decoration of birds on the sides and a turtle in the middle against a backdrop of flowing waves. The silver decorative shell fit over a tortoiseshell comb, which was not in perfect condition, as the tines were a little damaged. But this was a drop-dead piece for Japanese comb collectors. It sold for $301 on August 10 to Belva. Congratulations again for your taste and everything you’ve done to bring the beauty of hair combs to the world via the ACCCI.

Some Lovely Things on Ebay

1 Reply


There were five combs that caught my attention, one of which I bought. A “friend” ;-) castigated me for my greed and obsession, but she’s right. Collecting Maltese Falcons is war, within yourself and with your competitors. I lost the war within myself on this comb. But when you collect, so much of your naked identity goes into what you choose. That’s why it’s always interesting to see other people’s full collections. They are reflections of identity a social face cannot hide. Anyway, here they are:

The Chinese made these types of combs for the English export market in Victorian times. Ivory is perfect, carving is gorgeous, no flaws, my mind exploded. I bought it for $500, beating a snipe bid of $495. I’d love to know who the other bidders were. You may refer to auction #350082094072.





This magnificent tortoiseshell comb was one of two (the other one was bleh) that went for a total of $80 on July 27 at a live auction. $40 for this? Spell Bargain. It was won by a live floor bidder. They were valued at $200 – $300. You may refer to auction #140244906799.



This lovely art deco comb went for $99.95 on July 20. I adore it. Congrats to the winner. You may refer to auction #200238922080.



A beautiful ivory comb with floral decoration went for $327 on July 23. You may refer to auction #290245775831.



Finally, I very much liked this celluloid, what they call French Ivory, comb. It has a beautiful butterfly design and the identifying French-style 5 tines of the comb. It went for $42 on July 18. You may refer to auction #220255014546.



Happy Collecting!

Ancient British Comb found in Wales

Leave a reply


The British Museum, where this comb resides, thinks that because it is made of rare elephant ivory, it must have been used in a religious ceremony consecrating a Bishop. The comb dates back to the 11th Century AD and was found in Wales. It is carved on both sides, but the inscription cannot be deciphered. The siginificance of the figures is also not known, although one is armed, and one takes a submissive position. During the 12th Century, religious combs were made of walrus tusk. That this is elephant ivory makes this extremely rare. In fact, no other piece of ivory is known to have survived from this period in Britain.