Category Archives: Japanese Hair Comb

The Lives of Geishas and Ladies

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By Susan Maxwell Schmidt, hair jewelry artist extraordinaire and owner and creator of Longlocks Hair Sticks, for me the best modern hair jewelry artist on the market.

She wrote, “I am a self-described “geisha expert.”  Geishas were NEVER prostitutes. NEVER. During the world wars there were women who CLAIMED to soldiers to be geishas who were prostitutes, but true geishas.. NEVER.

Geishas must be practiced in all the arts to the level of perfection, and spend several years as maikos learning the intricacies of music (both instruments and vocals), dance and conversation.

Also, while some women in the past were forced bytheir families to become geishas, being a geisha has ALWAYS been a *great* honor, and those who still practice the art are held in the same esteem as the most famous and accomplished movie stars are here… and are even more inaccessible by the “common man.”

You cannot be entertained by geisha unless you have reached a level high enough to be invited to enjoy their company, no matter who you are.

Oh, and most Asian communities do not think it is suitable to smile in photographs, even today. I sponsor a little girl in Thailand and I don’t have one photograph of her smiling because they consider photographs to be such a “special event” that it would be unheard of to appear any way but with the utmost propriety.”

These photographs were taken in 1890. You may refer to auctions #260077851984 and 260077841975.






For the Italian ladies, who knows if their marriages were arranged to older men by their parents for financial or political reasons, which means they had to sleep with men who might have repulsed them, too. We will never know the pain behind the pearls.

This is a portrait by Lavinia Fontana, 1552-1614. The lady is wearing a sumptuous yellow silk dress, lace collar, pearl necklace, and pearls in her hair.



This portrait of a lady is from the Neopolitan School in the early 18th Century. The lady is believed to be Francesca Gornia, wife of Francesco del Veglia. She is wearing a red embroidered dress with a beautiful red ribbon in her hair.

Some Lovely Things on Ebay

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Recently a gorgeous Meiji ivory Japanese kushi whose intertwining dragons had diamond eyes did not sell for $400. It has the typical Meiji characteristic of the carving folding over the top of the comb. You may refer to auction #270224867132.



There was also a complete set of what I think are 10 Edo ivory combs, decorated with gold inlay, to wear, and also cleaning items like a shoe horn and a tooth brush. Some teeth were missing on the combs, the gold inlay is worn on some combs, and it belonged to a famous NYC fashion designer. I have never seen anything like it. It was selling for $1295.



My Devotion to Japonisme

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I just received a lovely post from lotusgreen, who does the Japonisme blog, with a French hair comb to die for. I would like to thank lotusgreen for emailing me her blog post so I could put it up on my blog. Enjoy! Paul and Henri Vever horn comb with gold and pearls, which resides at the Musée des Arts Decoratifs in Paris. For my Japanese comparison,  I’m going to choose this Meiji tortoiseshell comb, designed with languishing leaves and pearls in its flowers, which resides in the Mikimoto Museum.



Also, because I can’t help myself, I’m putting up an image of a lalique plum blossom comb lotusgreen gave me, too. Made of horn with a gold hinge, it looks like the blossoms were dyed blue. For the Japanese part, I’m just putting up two of my favorite Edo combs ever. Not really a comparison, but what do you bet Rene saw them at that famous Paris Exhibition of 1867, where the two forces of art came together?





Some Lovely Things on Ebay

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There was just a live auction for a seed pearl tiara with earrings and a broach, which went for $375. I didn’t win, in fact I don’t even see my bid registered, but I LOVED this 1820’s London tiara in its original box. Someone on the auction floor won it. You may refer to auction #350035825568.



This beautiful Sterling silver peigne Josephine comb has the makers mark K&J and a number 61. The dealer was told the maker was German. If anyone knows this jeweler, please comment. It was listed at a starting price of $500 and went unsold. You may refer to auction #150221468241.



This Auguste Bonaz art deco comb went for $169.19. In French Ivory, it’s just lovely. You may refer to auction #150223853167



And last this evening, I loved this Edo kogai stick. Such beautiful ornate decoration of a beautiful bird in a cherry blossom tree. Such perspective throughout the stick. It sold for $301.52. You may refer to auction #350036232675.

Some Lovely Things on Ebay and Beyond

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There was an auction of gorgeous combs recently, which did very well. There was also a beautiful coral and shell comb I loved. Finally, on Ruby Lane, there was a drop-dead Peigne Josephine ivory comb in its original box, made by House of Kaldenberg in New York City (c.1840-1880) that I got to first. The dealer told me there was a storm over this comb, so I guess you can post your hate mail here. ;-) I also bought some real antique Chinese kingfisher oraments, which I love. So here they are!

This Chinese ivory comb was part of a beautiful collection. It has an elaborate floral center surrounded by a delicately hand-carved frame and sold for $260 on Feb 26. You may refer to auction #140208060513.





There was a stunning garnet tiara on a shell comb. I lost the auction, but I have the pictures. If anyone knows how much it finally sold for, please put it in the comments, and I’ll update this post.



This tortoiseshell Chinese comb with a dragon theme sold for $202.50 on Feb. 26. You may refer to auction #130198909196.





A celluloid art deco parrot comb sold for $46 on Feb 17. I have a bit of a weakness for parrots since one owns me. You may refer to auction #200199653557.



This beautiful English coral tiara hinged to a shell comb, c. 1880, sold for $257 on Feb. 28. You may refer to auction #160211215401.



And finally, the Ruby Lane ivory comb I grabbed because when I saw it, my brain exploded.





Here is what my collection box looks like. I have the 4 kingfisher ornaments I bought are in there. I love them. The butterfly pendant is in perfect condition and takes my breath away.



Spring is almost here! I hope everyone is planting. :-) 

Some Lovely Things on Ebay

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I’m going to start with a Spanish silver crown of thorns, c. 1890, which was offered by the same dealer from whom I bought my tiara, but sorry to say I lost the auction, and I don’t know if it sold. I am guessing the crown could have been worn on Good Friday, signifying the passion of Christ. Spanish Catholicism is dramatic and passionate, and I had never seen anything like this. I don’t see this piece as attempting to be beautiful, but rather to communicate suffering. Comments welcome.



The dealer thought this early Edo masterpiece was c. 1860. I disagree. The size, the fact that there is only one picture, and look at the plot of this picture, and the detail. There was one idea on each side, completely different. Both pictures were works of art in themselves, the way it is signed. I’m going to venture a guess that it’s c. 1720. Comments welcome by Japanese experts if you think I’m wrong. That it went for the ridiculous price of 75 GBP was probably because it was damaged. But for something that old, I guess if it survived in tact, it would be in a museum. Idiotically, I did not buy this.





This beautiful Meiji set of pearl berries and grape leaves just sold for $355 on Feb 10.



This gold makie kanzashi hair stick was beautiful. It sold for $255 on Jan 26.





Here is a modern comb I liked. It is made of buffalo horn and signed by the artist Genryo. It is accent with mop and inlaid gold.



This late Edo tortoiseshell comb with coral beads, ivory and brass flowers decorating a brass top is beautiful, and sold for $355 on Jan 20.



Finally, I’m going to feature a Chinese claw comb. I had a hairstick once with a claw and a blonde tortoiseshell ball that I sold to “best friend” Myrna who tells me things like I “there are products to get rid of the frizz Barbara,” when she sees my pictures, lol, but the edge of this comb has the same claw art, which I think is gorgeous and very Chinese.

Some Lovely Things on Ebay

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This 18K gold hair comb with a bamboo frame sold Jan 7 on ebay for $1102.77. It was made by Madison Ave. jewelry designer David Webb, who gave the traditional Japanese kushi shape his own unique, original interpretation.





There was also an auction of Japanese combs, some pieces of which had great artistry. Of course, the combs were expensive because it costs a lot to get them, and many didn’t sell.  I made a deal with the seller to buy this ivory kanzashi for $500 in installment payments because when I saw it, I freaked.







This beautiful Taisho kushi did not sell for a starting price of $480. It is tortoiseshell, painted with a greyish-black lacquer, and it has a toy theme. I think the colors and bold design are magnificent on this piece. The artist GYOKUSEI signed his work. Maybe if the kushi were in mint condition, it would have sold. You can never tell, but I remember a similar piece on Trocadero of a Noh mask selling for $1295. It took a year to sell that piece, but maybe it was by the same artist.





This Meiji blonde tortoiseshell kushi has a superb three-diminsional carving of an old traveler saying goodbye to birds dressed in kimonos, as he goes down the road into the mountains. The artist carved his painting on the front and back to give perspective. Again, the condition is not perfect, but the artistry is fabulous. What a unique theme, how elaborately it was expressed. I loved it, but it also did not sell for a starting price of $480.







A seller wanted $5500 for this Russian Imperial tiara brooch/barrette that was advertised as being from Faberge and made for the Czar’s mistress, a Russian prima ballerina, but no one bought it. You may refer to Auction #250200100650.



Finally, this lovely silver comb from the state of Rajasthan in North India, whose top is a receptacle to hold perfumed oil, sold for $152.50 on Dec 30. The cap is graced by two peacocks, who are the Hindu symbol for immortality. You may refer to Auction #290192625758. There is a dealer on Trocadero who is trying to sell a similar piece for $600, so this was a good buy. :-)

Some Lovely Things on Ebay and Beyond

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There have been some lovely things listed recently on Ebay, and one I missed on Ruby Lane (dash!), that I’d like to share this beautiful Christmas Eve. I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday.

These pink coral cabachons set in silver, marked 800, are highlighted with tiny seed pearls set in the leaves, and hinged onto a horn comb, c. 1880. I love it. It sold to myrnatoo, my nemesis and supposed best friend ;-P, for $245 on Ruby Lane.





This beautifully designed Sterling silver comb featuring a makers mark: Hermann Duhme of Cincinnati, c. 1860, did not sell for an asking price of $399. I couldn’t afford it, but I thought it was lovely. Maybe overpriced, but the dealer might get her wish at another time, or lower the price $100. You may refer to Auction #110206067490.



This silver-plated brass Japanese kanzashi in the form of a bird cage sold for $470.25. It is Meiji, and even has the small bird in the cage. Marvelous detail. You may refer to Auction #140186354336



I am not sure how much this bird gold and silver kanzashi sold for. The seller was kofudo_jp. I didn’t save the auction, bleh, but I loved the very dramatic birdie.



Finally, although I usually do not do celluloid combs, unless they are Bonaz, I liked this one anyway. The shape is very unusual and striking. This celluloid comb made to look like tortoiseshell sold for $102.50 on Nov 26. You may refer to Auction #250189964524.

Some Lovely Things on Ebay

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There have been some beautiful things sold on ebay recently.

A beautiful tortoiseshell, gold makie, and coral kogai stick from the Edo period sold for $490 on Nov. 28. You may refer to Auction #300174753664.





A Showa tortoiseshell kushi with two layers of leaves flowing in the wind sold for $257.82 on Nov. 25. You may refer to Auction #330189054886.



A gorgeously carved Victorian ivory comb went for the stunningly low price of $86 because two pieces of it were missing. When such a beauty, with no discoloration, has damage, I hold my head in my hands. Anyway, it was a great bargain, and a beautiful comb. You may refer to Auction #230197013812.



A beautiful 14K rose gold hair pin sold for $383 on Dec 6. You may refer to Auction #250193680625.



On Dec 10, this matching set of beautiful garnet butterfly hairpins went for $760. You may refer to Auction #170174938274.





This beautiful late Edo tortoiseshell kanzashi, c. 1850, sold for an excellent price of $152.53 on Dec 9. The pins are smaller because it was made to be worn at the front of the geisha’s wig. The quality of the shell is translucent blonde and extraordinary. You may refer to Auction #110201844429.



And finally, I bought this butterfly ivory comb on Ruby Lane recently for $245. It looks pretty discolored, but no pieces are missing, and I loved it, so c’est la. Update: I received it. It’s not discolored at all, and it’s huge. I’m thrilled with it.