Lichfield District Council
Three Celluloid Hair Combs - c. 19th Century
Location: Lichfield District Council
Accession number: 1983.52.5-7
These three 19th century hair combs were the must-have fashion accessory for early Victorian Britain.
They have been based upon Spanish, "Mantilla" style hair combs, which grew in popularity in Britain throughout the 1800s. Originally manufactured in expensive tortoiseshell, they were seen as a relatively high class object.
However, the invention of the plastic "Celluloid" allowed cheaper production of the combs, allowing them to be become available to a mass market in the later 19th century.
These combs have been made from celluloid, and range in design from a simple band mounted upon a set of prongs, to a much more elaborate crown design.
Three Celluloid Hair Combs - c. 19th Century
Location: Lichfield District Council
Accession number: 1983.52.5-7
These three 19th century hair combs were the must-have fashion accessory for early Victorian Britain.
They have been based upon Spanish, "Mantilla" style hair combs, which grew in popularity in Britain throughout the 1800s. Originally manufactured in expensive tortoiseshell, they were seen as a relatively high class object.
However, the invention of the plastic "Celluloid" allowed cheaper production of the combs, allowing them to be become available to a mass market in the later 19th century.
These combs have been made from celluloid, and range in design from a simple band mounted upon a set of prongs, to a much more elaborate crown design.