Stunning Vintage 9 Inch Inlaid Red Lacquer Hairpin Set
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Ethnic:
Far Eastern:
Pre 1980 item# 696358
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
$35 SALE
(Reduced from $45)
Free U.S. Shipping
& Gift-Wrap if Desired
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These gorgeous vintage hair ornaments will fasten your hair up quickly and securely, adding exotic style while also being far kinder to hair than bobbypins and bands. Although they're usually called hair sticks now, these are technically one point hairpins -- a type used by ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, as well as in Asia. These are clearly an Oriental version: longer than the European sort and worn in pairs, often crossed in the middle. That was a Japanese innovation, but the cinnabar red color here also evokes China.
Especially exciting and unusual about these is their highly abstract decoration. Conventional motifs from nature are a great deal more common than these lavish swirls of antique gold and cinnabar black. Each pin also has six inlaid panels of iridescent carved abalone plus a host of smaller accents that appear to be white shell. A lot of hand-craftsmanship went into this ornamentation, which is well sealed under clear lacquer. Presumably there's wood at the core, but none is visible. Overall condition is fabulous, showing no surface wear without high magnification and no losses of inlay.
Each pin is 9 inches long, with an effective length (the undecorated part that actually goes into your hair) of about 4.5 inches. The lower portion is smooth as silk, which is important for avoiding damage, and finishes with the rounded narrow point that also signifies high quality.
Provenance is the New Mexico estate of a lady who acquired them in San Francisco during the mid-1970s. Actual age is unknown, but they have to be at least 30 years old. The 1920s wouldn't be out of the question, since Oriental hair ornaments of this type were exceedingly popular then; if that's the case, they're antique, rather than just vintage.
There's no charge for insured U.S. shipping and gift-wrap is always free when desired. Please e-mail to confirm availability, order or request more photos. Thanks for looking!
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Antique Silver Dangle Earrings Exotic Asian Tribal
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Ethnic:
Far Eastern:
Pre 1930 item# 611878
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click for details
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
$80 SALE (Reduced from $95)
Free 1nsured U.S. Shipping
& Gift-Wrap if Desired
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If you enjoy exotic jewelry, you'll love these hand-made silver earrings. Two inches long, they're highly decorative -- combining stamped, cast, hammered, soldered & wire wrap details. Even the ear wires are hand-drawn.
Exact metal content is uncertain. Several small spots seem to reveal another metal, but may simply reflect the vagaries of coin silver, which was always an alloy. Provenance is an estate in New Mexico, where unusual jewelry has always been an element of high style. Condition is quite good, relative to age. These are definitely very old. I don't know enough about Asian jewelry to date them with precision (or identify the ethnic origin) so, if you help with that, please let me know. I'm calling them pre-1930, but they may well be 19th century.
There's no charge for insured U.S. shipping and gift-wrap is always free when desired. Please e-mail to confirm availability, order or request more photos. Thanks for looking!
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