Antique Bronze Hair Pin + Original Bamboo Case - Traditional Eastern Asian Accessory

😀 Antique Bronze Hair Pin + Original Bamboo Case

This belonged to my grandmother who was the first woman to earn a degree in Anthropology from Harvard University.  She worked at the Peabody Museum for many years and was a world traveler who always collected artifacts like this along her way. The metal implement has a distinctive design with crossed pattern etching on the handle, and the bamboo tube with its red leather/fabric end cap would have served as its protective container.

Hair pins like this were commonly used in various Asian cultures, particularly in China, Japan, and Korea. Beyond their practical function of securing elaborate hairstyles, they often served as status symbols and fashion accessories for women. The bronze material suggests this was a quality piece, while the bamboo storage tube indicates the owner valued and cared for this personal accessory.

These implements could sometimes serve dual purposes, with the pointed end occasionally used as a tool for adjusting makeup or as a portable eating utensil when traveling.

This authentic piece would make an excellent addition to any collection of Asian antiquities, historical fashion accessories, or ethnographic artifacts. It could also be repurposed as a unique decorative item or even used traditionally as a hair accessory.

📝 Info

Material: Hair pin: bronze, storage tube: bamboo,
Condition:
Dimensions: Hair pin: 6-7”~
Period: Likely late 19th century
Region of Origin: Southeast Asia