Unsigned Multi Rhinestone Triangular Art Deco Comb

Ref: AB-1009-007

The new style of Art Deco was marked by a symmetry, geometric shapes, and general stylisation of decorative motifs. Many of these Art Deco combs are in pure, abstract forms, with little surface ornamentation for a very powerful effect. The strong contrasting shapes – ovals, squares, or oblongs - show a deep appreciation and understanding of the potential of the material. Very jazzy and geometric, the designs celebrated all the excitement of the machine age and were definitely more angular, fantastical and bold than the previous flowing designs of the Art Nouveau period.

Size: 6 x 4½ ins (approx 15 x 11 cms)

£70.00

Auguste Bonaz French Ivory Mantilla Style Comb

Ref: AB-1009-009

This is a beautiful French ivory mantilla style hair comb by Maison Bonaz dating from the early part of the 20th century. It resembles a miniature version of the high combs which Spanish ladies wear with their lace veils in national dress.

Earlier examples from the Bonaz workshop are the most elaborately and intricately decorated. This one is becoming plainer with just a little openwork border detail for relief of the basic wedge shaped design. The manner in which the border is cut off at the top corners is deliberate and not a sign of damage.

Size: 6½  x 3¼  ins (approx 16.5 x 8 cms)

£80.00

Pair of Freres Signed Combs with Gilded Decoration

Ref: AB-1009-010

This is a very beautiful pair of mid 20th century hair combs by the Parisian firm of Fried Freres. They have a beautiful gilded decoration and are typical of the small but exquisite hair goods of the 1940s and 1950s. These combs are of a classic type which has been worn since the late 19th century, as shown by the contemporary photographs which comprise the last two photographs.

Size: 4 x 2 ins (approx 10 x 5 cms)

£40.00

Large Unsigned Black Mantilla Comb with Lacy Openwork

Ref: AB-1201-010

This large and very fine black celluloid mantilla style comb is unsigned but closely resembles examples made by the House of Bonaz at this time. It is a good example of the very large combs which were fashionable in the early 1920s with a high heading and openwork lacelike pattern. Such combs are represented in the beautiful advertisements which the Bonaz atelier commissioned from French magazines. The final picture shows one of these ads, with examples of very similar combs having tall wedge shaped headings.

Size: 9 x 5 ins (approx 23 x 12.5 cms)

£90.00

Large White Unsigned Mantilla with Lacy Openwork

Ref: AB-1201-012

This large and very fine white celluloid mantilla style comb is unsigned but closely resembles examples made by the House of Bonaz at this time. It is a good example of the very large combs which were fashionable in the early 1920s with a high heading and openwork lace like pattern. Such combs are represented in the beautiful advertisements which the Bonaz atelier commissioned from French magazines. The final picture shows one of these ads, with an example of very similar combs having a very tall heading. The other illustration is from the front cover of American Vogue for 1923.

Size: 10 ins x 6¾ ins (approx 26 x 17 cms)

£90.00

Unsigned French Ivory Lacy Wedge Shape Hair Comb

Ref: AB-1401-009

This large and very beautiful French Ivory hair comb has a tall wedge shaped heading with openwork of lace like delicacy. Combs of this shape, especially in asymmetric designs, are typically from the 1910s – 1920s period.

Combs like this were worn as shown in picture 9 which is taken from a contemporary fashion plate in a contemporary French magazine. We can see that the sitter is wearing a similarly shape comb and has placed at a jaunty angle in the hair so that the beautiful openwork heading can be seen from all angles. Her appearance is in the Spanish fashion which was in vogue during the early 20th century.

Size: 6¼ ins h x 4¼ ins w (16 x 11 cms)

£80.00