{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O77572"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O77572/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM8018/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM8018/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AM8018","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AM8016","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019MD2592","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O77572/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O77572","accessionNumber":"38-1888","objectType":"Comb","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"<b>Object Type</b><br>This is a typical 19th-century Japanese ornamental comb. Combs were often made of luxurious and eye-catching materials, in this case lacquered wood. The design of the moon behind a tree cleverly continues around the back, encouraging the viewer to turn it over.<br><br><b>Ownership & Use</b><br>This type of comb was meant to be used as a decorative hair ornament rather than as something useful for actually combing the hair. Combs became popular with the emergence of elaborate hair-dos during the 17th century. They complemented the elegant kimono of the wearer and were usually used in combination with ornate hairpins and bodkins.<br><br><b>Time</b><br>In the mid-1850s Japan was opened up after more than two centuries of seclusion from the rest of the world. The passion for all things Japanese that this triggered in the West was termed 'Japonisme'. Japanese art objects were avidly bought by Western collectors, artists and designers from specialist dealers or from shops such as Liberty's. Kimono and dress accessories were regarded as the embodiment of Japanese femininity.","physicalDescription":"","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"wood","id":"AAT11914"}],"techniques":[{"text":"lacquering","id":"AAT53796"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Wood with black lacquer and gold and silver <i>hiramaki-e</i> and <i>togidashi maki-e</i> lacquer","categories":[{"text":"Accessories","id":"THES48998"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2006AM8018","2006AM8016","2019MD2592"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"004","id":"THES398951"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Comb","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Japan","id":"x29399"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1800-1880","earliest":"1800-01-01","latest":"1880-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"4.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"12.1","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"0.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions checked: Measured; 18/01/1999 by sf","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Purchased from a source not recorded in the Asia Department registers, accessioned in 1888. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.\nMade in Japan","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Lacquer comb with moon behind tree","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk","id":"AUTH407397"},"details":"Jackson, Anna (editor), London: V&A Publications, 2020","free":"\r\n"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"In the Edo period, women wore elaborate, upswept hairstyles that were sectioned and held in place with paper strips, hairpins and combs of wood, lacquer or much coveted tortoiseshell. Courtesans had the most elaborate arrangements, with multiple hairpins and two combs. Often their hair spread high above the head.\r\n","date":{"text":"29/02/2020","earliest":"2020-02-29","latest":"2020-02-29"}},{"text":"British Galleries:\nCOMBS<br>\nTo a Victorian audience the image of a woman dressed in a kimono embodied Japan.  Items of Japanese women's dress and accessories were popular purchases.  Combs such as these were very attractive and not very expensive.  They could be bought from specialist dealers and from shops such as Liberty's in London.","date":{"text":"27/03/2003","earliest":"2003-03-27","latest":"2003-03-27"}}],"partNumbers":["38-1888"],"accessionNumberNum":"38","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1888,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LP3843","2019LU4279"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-10-21","recordCreationDate":"2003-03-27","availableToBook":true}}