Mother of Pearl Comb - ref. 278

Description

The ornamental comb is a feminine ornament for the hair that has a convex form and  a group of spikes that are fitted on the bun. In the past it was made from tortoiseshell proceeding to the conch of the turtle little by little with the time and the gradual  the disappearing of the turtles which the conch was made and the ornamental combs of tortoiseshell started being replaced with others  synthetic materials, so that helped to avoid the entire extinction of this species.

The conservationists criteria have favored the use of different materials, between them the celluloid, who imitate perfect both the aspect and the texture of the authentic tortoiseshell, and allow to decorate the ornamental combs with thin and thick openwork's origin of the ornamental comb goes back in XIXth century and nowadays  is still used in some celebrations like weddings , processions of Holy Week or bullfights.

The ornamental comb is the principal complement of the mantilla, who become fashionable in the last century in order to raise it so in this way is used for weddings, religious acts, Spanish festivities and big occasions.
The mantilla constitutes a habitual complement of the ornamental comb stylizing the figure of the woman. Also it is a constitutive element of some regional suits as the  fallera valencian one or the flamenco Andalusian.
 
Measurements: 26 cm high place (18 cm. without comb) x 25 cm breadth.