Ivory gilded assorted comb with colored ribbons

[Ivory gold colored assorted comb set]

Ivory gold colored assorted comb set, late Qing Dynasty, box height 3.7 cm, length 29.2 cm, width 20.7 cm. The old collection of the Qing Palace
This comb set is made in Guangdong and consists of 25 pieces, including 9 combs, 2 bamboo combs, 2 picking combs, 2 rouge sticks, 2 flat needles, and 8 large and small brushes. The rectangular comb has about 60 comb teeth, as well as crescent shaped comb, handle comb, and comb comb; The grate block of the bamboo grate is made of ivory, and the grate frame is made of wood; Two grates, one with a rectangular wooden handle and the other with an ivory handle, are connected at one end with 7 teeth; The flat needle is ivory like and has semicircular ends; The rouge stick is a rosewood round stick with a cigarette holder type ivory head inlaid at the head and filled with red velvet. Most of these combs are painted in gold with patterns such as phoenix patterns, cloud bats, chrysanthemums, lotus flowers, pomegranates, peaches, plum blossoms, eight treasures, landscapes, pavilions, and fish boats
The Empress Dowager of the Qing Dynasty is fashionable to comb “two handlebars” of hair. When the hair is scattered all over the head, a rectangular comb can spread hair over a large area; A medium crescent comb is more suitable when combing two heads to a dovetail that hangs below the neck; When combing to the ends of the hair and sideburns, it is advisable to use a small comb shaped like an octagonal handle; At that time, people rarely washed their hair, and the comb was used to remove dirt from their scalp; The comb is a tool for removing dirt from the comb; A brush, also known as a pussy, is used to pussy hair. In the past, people used to pay attention to the smoothness and smoothness of their hair. When combing their hair, they had to dip in the sticky shaving water that had been soaked for several days while combing it, so that the combed hair could meet the aesthetic requirements. There are also those used to brush the eyebrows and temples, or to apply rouge and blush on both cheeks, as well as those that fall on the neck and back when brushing and combing hair; Flat needles are used to tuck in exposed broken hair or to pluck gaps. Whenever the Empress Dowager inserts accessories such as hairpins and headdresses, if inserted directly, it can easily mess up her hair. Therefore, before inserting, use a flat needle to poke a gap in the worn area, insert the headdress, and then remove the flat needle; The rouge stick is used to dot the lips during facial makeup. After combing her head, the queen must dip a rouge stick in the rouge. First, gently smear the lips, and finally center on the lower lip centerline. Dot a prominent red dot, which is nicknamed “Cherry Mouth” or “Cherry Lip.”
The complete set of combs is well made and has various functions, reflecting the exquisite style of dressing and the combs used by Empress Dowager Cixi and her concubines at that time.