Hair Implement
1850 - 1900 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
These are hair parting pins made of bronze sheets. One end of the pin is cut out round, while the other is pointed. Their length range from 12 to 16 cm. The pointed end was used for parting hair, while the round part was used for removing dirt and applying hair oil. The upper part shows a ruyi head's design.
Object details
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Brass |
| Brief description | Hair implement (bitchigae); Korea, 1850-1900, Joseon dynasty |
| Physical description | The pins are made of a complex alloy. The primary constituents are copper, zinc, manganese, iron, nickel, lead, tin and antimony. See FE 46 for more detail on the object type. Colour: Yellow |
| Dimensions |
|
| Style | |
| Gallery label | 1. A pair of tweezers and four bitchigae
(hair implements)
Goryeo dynasty (918–1392) and Joseon dynasty (1392–1910)
Bitchigae is a double-ended grooming tool. The pointed end was used to part hair, while the rounded end was used to apply hair oil. The grooves of the gingko-leaf shaped bitchigae were initially designed to remove dirt from the hair, but later evolved to be purely decorative and then used as a hairpin. Tweezers were also multi- purpose, with an angled-pointed end to part hair or to scoop ear wax. Bitchigae and tweezers were often stored together inside a vanity box.
Copper alloy and bronze sheets
Museum nos. FE.46 to 49-1991, M.69-1937(05/04/2019) |
| Summary | These are hair parting pins made of bronze sheets. One end of the pin is cut out round, while the other is pointed. Their length range from 12 to 16 cm. The pointed end was used for parting hair, while the round part was used for removing dirt and applying hair oil. The upper part shows a ruyi head's design. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | FE.48-1991 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | February 3, 2000 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
