What draws Emily to antiques is her curiosity for placing them in their social and cultural context. When she discovered this set of combs, their design drew her in, but once she spent time researching their attributes, she appreciated and loved them even more. Their story begins with a mantilla hair comb that had been popularly worn in Spain for celebrations and pageantry . It is marked by a convex shape with an openwork crown that sits high on the head. This style had a surge of popularity in Europe starting in 1875, the same year that the opera Carmen was first performed in Paris. The Spanish-themed production featured mantilla combs, and boom, a style was reborn! This dramatic silhouette was perfectly suited for the high buns and long hair popular in Victorian England. Perhaps, the smaller combs were for daytime use and the large was reserved for evening soirees, either way the set of three leaves us with endless possibilities. ca 1880
