An amazing Art Nouveau hair comb decorated with a scarab set in gilt.
It is very easy to fall in love with a piece of jewellery; the hard part can be deciphering its history. Jewellery frequently overlaps in styles, with elements of two different eras being combined. This gilt and scarab hair comb has features from both the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods - which give it a unique look and a complicated origin!
At the beginning of the 20th century, there was a definite move towards functional art, and everyday items were made to be wearable, even though they were still beautifully crafted. This movement was hugely influenced by nature, and so the popular themes were winged insects, leaves and flowers.Vintage hair accessories were often enamelled and contained intricate designs or precious gemstones.
Mystery and fantasy played important roles in both the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods, and this was evident with the revival of Egyptian jewellery. When Tutankhamen's tomb was discovered in 1922, Egyptian-inspired designs dominated the jewellery world. One of the most important symbols to the Egyptians was the scarab beetle, as it represented rebirth, and it was believed to bring good luck. This hair comb features a green scarab!!
Art Deco jewellery had strong, rigid and geometric lines, and designs were minimal and clean - these are strong features of this hair clip.
This antique accessory would have been cherished by women with longer, heavier hair, as it served the functional role of keeping their hair up, but it also would have been worn for its elegance and eye-ctaching simplicity.