Posted 2 years ago
SJG
(3 items)
Any ideas on this please? another grandmothers attic find. A very old hair comb? curved dark wood and very fine teeth. and a subtle design across the base. Does anyone have any insight what this is? where from, when etc?
Maybe not a comb but a device to hold hair in place once the hair has been twisted into a bun.
Used instead of metal hairpins.
I see, thank you. Any idea how old you think this maybe? Its strong, yet delicate
Considering that women wore their hair long and twisted into buns for many many years (some still do), I think you should do more research.
I’d start by looking up vintage/antique wooden ladies’ hair pins, hair combs, hair ornaments, hair picks, hair embellishments, etc.
Without looking anything up, I know the “Roaring 20s” brought about very short hairstyles for a lot of women. Based on that, I’d start my search pre-1920.
Maybe others on CW can add more info to help you.
I’d especially want to know how to protect the wood. It’s probably dry and brittle so avoid letting anyone try it out on their hair!
I hope you post more of your finds. :^)
Thank you both for helpful insights. Do you think for afro hair?
Hair is hair, all of us (at least used to) have it whether 'afro' or not. Our particular types determine typical ways to deal with/wear it, which often includes various accessories or adornments. I agree with Watchsearcher, more research for this exact item is needed -- but probably not impossible to find. Please update us when/if you do so. :-)
I thought it was an eel gig at first..lol. It must have been difficult to carve that. Is there something pieces broke off?
SJG, AO said it best: hair is hair.
dav2no1, An eel gig -- EEEK!
Then again, perhaps gigging eels is perferable to the fishing method emplowed in Guenther Grass' "The Tin Drum."
SJG, I suspect that Watchsearcher's instincts are correct about this being a device designed to secure hair knotted into a bun.
Was it designed with a particular kind of hair in mind? Hmmm.
It probably works better with some kinds of hair than others, but I don't think there's necessarily a racial component to this.
Basically, it would work best with hair long enough to be knotted into a bun. If the hair is too thin, fine, or slick-textured, it would probably work less well, or perhaps even not at all.
On the other hand, if the hair is too thick, or the knot too big/heavy, it might be too much for the fork.
There is an incredible welter of hair ornaments out there, and only part of the reason is personal taste. No single hair ornament works with all types of hair.
D'oh! "[E]mplowed" should have been "employed."
I can see I'm gonna have one of those kind of proofreading days. >8-0
Thankyou once again for the insights. Its such a beautiful item, very fine teeth though, not sure I'd trust it in my hair