Hairpins Collection

Etruscan jewelry, from Enciclopedia Ilustrada Segui, c.1900
3432446 Etruscan jewelry, from Enciclopedia Ilustrada Segui, c.1900; Private Collection; (add.info.: Etruscan jewelry. From Enciclopedia Ilustrada Segui, published c. 1900).

Returning Sails of Akashi: Koimurasaki of the Tamaya, between c1814 and c1817. Creator: Kikugawa Eizan
Returning Sails of Akashi: Koimurasaki of the Tamaya, between c1814 and c1817. Series: Eight Views of Genji

The Courtesan Hanaogi of the Ogiya House, c1830s. Creator: Ikeda Eisen
The Courtesan Hanaogi of the Ogiya House, c1830s. Series: Seven Beauties of the Green Houses

Geisha looking up at a cuckoo, from the series "Five Annual Festivals for the Katsushika... 1822
Geisha looking up at a cuckoo, from the series "Five Annual Festivals for the Katsushika Circle (Katsushika gosekku)", Japan, 1822

No. 6: Flower of the Capital (Miyako no hana), from the series "A Comparison of...", late 1820s
No. 6: Flower of the Capital (Miyako no hana), from the series "A Comparison of Flowers (Hana awase)", late 1820s

Beauty applying rouge, from the series "Comaprison of Beauties in Eastern Brocade...c. 1804/10
Beauty applying rouge, from the series "Comaprison of Beauties in Eastern Brocade (Azuma nishiki bijin awase)", c. 1804/10

Queen Nenzima, Belgian Congo, Central Africa
Queen Nenzima of the Mangbettus (Mangbetu) tribe, Belgian Congo (now Democratic Republic of the Congo), Central Africa. Date: 1922

Passo Giau, Selva di Cadore, Belluno, Veneto, Italy, Europe

Mother scolding her son (colour litho)
3096333 Mother scolding her son (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Mother scolding her son. Postcard, early 20th century.); © Look and Learn

Returning Sails at Ryogoku River (Ryogoku no kihan), from the series "Eight Parodies
Returning Sails at Ryogoku River (Ryogoku no kihan), from the series " Eight Parodies by Contemporary Beauties (Tosei mitate bijin hakkei)", late 18th century. Attributed to Kitao Shigemasa

Takigawa of the Ogiya in the First Sale of the New Year (Hatsu uri zashiki no zu), c. 1794/95. Creator: Hosoda Eishi
Takigawa of the Ogiya in the First Sale of the New Year (Hatsu uri zashiki no zu), from the series "A Comparison of Selected Beauties of the Pleasure Quarters (Seiro bisen awase)", c

A Selection of Six Flowers - A Parody Rokkasen (Yatsushi rokkasen): Bishop Henjo, c. 1798. Creator: Hosoda Eishi
A Selection of Six Flowers - A Parody Rokkasen (Yatsushi rokkasen): Bishop Henjo, c. 1798

A Courtesan Reading a Letter, 1820/25. Creator: Hosoda Eishi
A Courtesan Reading a Letter, 1820/25. Woman with elaborate shimada hairstyle, wearing a kimono with peony design

Beauties of the Pleasure Quarters (Seiro bijin awase): Kisegawa of the Matsubaya... c. 1797. Creator: Hosoda Eishi
Beauties of the Pleasure Quarters (Seiro bijin awase): Kisegawa of the Matsubaya with Attendants Onami and Menami, c. 1797

Osumi, a Tayu of the Tsuchiya in the Shinmachi Quarter in Osaka, c. 1796 / 97
Osumi, a Tayu of the Tsuchiya in the Shinmachi Quarter in Osaka, c. 1796/97

The Courtesan Hanaogi of the Ogiya, c. 1798. Creator: Ichirakutei Eisui
The Courtesan Hanaogi of the Ogiya, c. 1798

The Courtesan Hanahito of the Ogiya and attendants Sakura and Momiji... c. 1795 / 1800
The Courtesan Hanahito of the Ogiya and attendants Sakura and Momiji, from the series " Beauties of the Five Festivals (Bijin gosekku)", c. 1795/1800

The Courtesan Tsukioka of the Hyogoya, c. 1797. Creator: Ichirakutei Eisui
The Courtesan Tsukioka of the Hyogoya, c. 1797

The courtesan Hinazuru of the Chojiya, 1790 / 1823. Creator: Ichirakutei Eisui
The courtesan Hinazuru of the Chojiya, 1790/1823

A Selection of Beauty from the Pleasure Quarters (Seiro bijin awase): Courtesans Hired... c. 1794
A Selection of Beauty from the Pleasure Quarters (Seiro bijin awase): Courtesans Hired for the New Years Holidays - Takigawa of the Ogiya, c. 1794

Hinazuru of the Keizetsuro, Japan, n. d. Creator: Kitagawa Utamaro
Hinazuru of the Keizetsuro, Japan, n.d

Hitomoto of the Daimonjiya with Attendants Senkaku and Banki, Japan, n. d
Hitomoto of the Daimonjiya with Attendants Senkaku and Banki, Japan, n.d

Tsukioka of the Hyogoya (Hyogoya uchi tsukioka), from the series "Seiro bijin meika
Tsukioka of the Hyogoya (Hyogoya uchi tsukioka), from the series " Seiro bijin meika awase", Japan, c. 1801

Ha... of the Southern Station (Nan eki ha-jirushi), Japan, c. 1795 / 96
Ha... of the Southern Station (Nan eki ha-jirushi), Japan, c. 1795/96

Slovenly (Shidaranasaso), from the series "Thirty-two Aspects of Women
Slovenly (Shidaranasaso), from the series " Thirty-two Aspects of Women (Fuzoku sanjuniso)", 1888

Kyoto: Courtesan of the Shimabara, from an untitled series of the three capitals, c. 1820s/30s

Osaka: Courtesan of the Shinmachi, from an untitled series of the three capitals, c. 1820s/30s

Jurojin, from the series "A Parody of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune
Jurojin, from the series " A Parody of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune (Mitate shichifukujin)", c. 1828

Stray Curl (colour litho)
3642931 Stray Curl (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Stray Curl. Postcard, early 20th century.); © Look and Learn

Kirbigrip Hair Pins on a card, for bobbed and shingled hair. 20th century

Ancient Roman jewellery (engraving)
5997489 Ancient Roman jewellery (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Ancient Roman jewellery)

Empress Eugenie, illustration from La Rose Imperiale
CHT287510 Empress Eugenie, illustration from La Rose Imperiale, supplement to La Charge, c.1870 (litho) (b/w photo) by Le Petit

Tools, weapons and ornaments of the Bronze Age (engraving)
962194 Tools, weapons and ornaments of the Bronze Age (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Tools, weapons and ornaments of the Bronze Age)

Hairpins (bronze, bone, gold & emerald)
614896 Hairpins (bronze, bone, gold & emerald) by Roman; Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Siena, Tuscany, Italy; Photo eNicol Orsi Battaglini; out of copyright

A courtesan looking down at a man holding a pipe in his hands (woodblock)
873492 A courtesan looking down at a man holding a pipe in his hands (woodblock) by Eizan, Kikukawa (1787-1867); 59.37 x9.84 cm; San Diego Museum of Art

The actor Iwai Hanshiro V as the Greengrocers daughter, Oshichi, c. 1815 (woodblock)
873543 The actor Iwai Hanshiro V as the Greengrocers daughter, Oshichi, c.1815 (woodblock) by Kunisada, Utagawa (Toyokuni III) (1786-1865); 37.47 x25.08 cm; San Diego Museum of Art

A geisha about to adjust a tortoise-shell hairpin, late 18th century

Profile Portrait of a Lady, c. 1410. Creator: Unknown
Profile Portrait of a Lady, c. 1410

1940s hairstyle suitable for very long hair
During the 1940s, elaborate hair was in. Due to the rationing during World War II, most women chose lovely hairstyles over new dresses. This style is suitable for very long hair. Date: 1940s

Roman womens hairstyles, veils, bonnets, hair pins, and comb.. Handcolored copperplate engraving from Robert von Spalarts Historical Picture of the Costumes of the Principal People of Antiquity

Advert for Hindes Limited the new hair pin 1893
A hair pin without points has good points! see the point? New patented at home and abroad, Hindes hair pin. Can t scratch the head and won t fall out

Dollie Goo Goo surpised by a duckling
European take on Japanese style... Dollie Goo Goo is surpised by a duckling Date: circa 1910s

Red Indian Hair Care
The dressing table of a Seminola Indian from the Everglades, Florida, U.S.A. The sausage-roll shaped rat serves as a support for the coiffure built upon it. Date: 1930s

Head of a Woman (colour woodblock print)
XIR182112 Head of a Woman (colour woodblock print) by Utamaro, Kitagawa (1753-1806); Musee Guimet, Paris, France; Japanese, out of copyright

Yotsumeya uchi kinshA, The Courtesan KinshA of Yotsumei-ya. Isoda, KoryA'sai, active 1764-1788, artist, [between 1775 and 1777], 1 print : woodcut, color; 37.6 x 25.7 cm

Hana, Flower. Utagawa, Toyokuni, 1769-1825, artist, [between 1804 and 1810], 1 print : woodcut, color; 35.6 x 23.2 cm. Print shows a woman, full-length portrait

Andon, Lantern. Utagawa, Toyokuni, 1786-1865, artist, [between 1830 and 1844], 1 print : woodcut, color; 37.6 x 25.8 cm. Print shows a woman, full-length portrait, standing, facing left

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"Hairpins: A Cultural Journey from Central Africa to Europe and Beyond" In the heart of Central Africa, Queen Nenzima of the Belgian Congo adorned her majestic locks with exquisite hairpins. These delicate accessories were not just mere adornments but symbols of power and beauty. Across the continent, Roman women in ancient times used hairpins to create intricate hairstyles that complemented their veils, bonnets, and elaborate headpieces. These tiny tools played a significant role in shaping their identity and expressing their femininity. Venturing into the picturesque landscapes of Selva di Cadore in Belluno, Veneto, Italy, we witness a mother scolding her son while his mischievous hands playfully tangle with her hairpin-adorned locks. Even in this mundane moment, these small objects connect generations through shared experiences. Traveling further east to Japan's Ryogoku River, we encounter "Returning Sails, " an artistic masterpiece capturing the essence of Japanese culture. Amidst this scene unfolds a woman gracefully adjusting her hairpin as she awaits her loved one's return. The pain embedded within this image reminds us that beauty often comes at a price. Delving deeper into Edo-period Japan's pleasure quarters reveals an enchanting world where courtesans like Takigawa and Kisegawa captivated hearts with their elegance. Their meticulously styled hair held together by ornate hairpins became synonymous with allure and sophistication. Hosoda Eishi's masterful creations transport us back to those opulent days when geishas read letters or indulged in moments of introspection while wearing intricately designed hairpins. Each stroke on canvas immortalizes these beauties who graced the pleasure quarters with grace and charm. Finally, Osumi emerges as a Tayu from Osaka's Shinmachi Quarter—a symbol of resilience amidst societal constraints. Her captivating presence showcases how even marginalized individuals found solace through artistry expressed in their hairpins.