Vintage hair comb - Plum blossoms

Vintage item

Hand-painted lacquered wood box comb, for daily use.

Details & Origin

This lacquered comb is as beautiful as ornamental combs (used for ceremonial hairstyles for example), but it is designed for daily use, resistant and handy like any regular comb. If you compare it to an ornamental comb, this one is boxier, for a better handle, and its teeth are thicker, in order to be more resistant.

The delicate decoration on one side of the comb represents branches of plum trees in bloom and chrysanthemums, both auspicious symbols.

The item was found without its original box so it is hard to date, but judging by its great condition and the regular aspect of its teeth, it is fairly recent. The wood must have been carved mechanically.

Material

Lacquered wood, handpainted with pigmented lacquer and golden powder,

Dimension

15,5 x 8,5 x 0,5 cm

Condition

Used object in great condition.

Sourced in Kyoto, Japan.