Antique Diamond Hair Clip Chinese 20k
20k antique gold hair pin set with old cut diamonds.
We restored these pins to wear like flatter, non decorative pins that remain hidden when styled on modern hair. They are solid gold, not hollow.
Hair was and still is a sign of wellness – affluent Straits Chinese women in the 19th century styled their hair jewels as a big part of their image. These chignon sporting women wore a whole series of hair combs, parting at different points with the combs/sticks depending on whether you were married or single. It is interesting their hair jewels did not lessen with age or hair!
The quality of the old cut diamonds vary – the diamonds on one pin is particularly fiery. The whole set is stunning, where the sentiment is more a subdued glamour than ostentation.
Each pin is 5cm long; I can see that the gentle curves in the tails of these straight pins can really make a cinematic hairdo, they are authentic Art Deco era keepsakes after all. It is possibly these were created earlier, from the 1910s onwards.
We would like for these three pins to go to their new owner as a set, since we inherited it as one. One pin makes a look frugal/lonely; three is Gatsby girl appropriate 🙂