University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

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Sorry, we couldn't find anything matching "This hair comb was made from the shell of a tortoise. Tortoise was a valuable material for making combs. It was easy to shape, very durable, and required no coloring or streaking. Many species of tortoise were hunted near extinction for their shells. Tortoise shell combs were a status symbol and horns made out of animal horn were cheaper and more common. Combs of this type made of horn and tortoise shell were extremely popular in the 1870s and 1880s. They were worn at the very top of the head or at the temples to keep hair back off the face. This comb has a carved dragon design which reflects America’s fascination with China and Japan during this period.".