Traditional Japanese Kanzashi comb. First half of the 20th century

Traditional Kanzashi comb. Japan, first half of the 20th century.
Bakelite.
Missing two prongs.
Measures: 5,5 x 9,5 cm.
Traditional Japanese Kanzashi comb, made in bakelite decorated with , Japanese garden, cranes and flowers in different colours and gilding.
Kanzashi are hair ornaments used in traditional Japanese hairstyles. Their origins date back to the time when Japanese women abandoned the typical taregami style where the hair was kept straight and long, and adopted the nihongami style haircut. They became popular in the Edo period when artisans began to create more finely crafted products. Today, kanzashi are generally used in the ornamentation of brides or women who make a profession out of wearing a kimono, such as geisha, tayu and yujo or tea ceremony and ikebana practitioners. Similarly, the use of these accessories survives for those Japanese women who wish to dress up and add an elegant touch to their attire. Kanzashi are made from a wide range of materials such as lacquered wood, gold, silver metals, tortoiseshell and silk, and lately, plastic.