Vintage Japanese Kogai Hair Ornament – Striped Amber and Black Resin – 7¼"

Vintage Japanese Kogai Hair Ornament – Striped Amber and Black Resin – 7¼"

Description

Handsome kogai (笄) hair ornament from the Taishō to early Shōwa period, made of striped amber-and-black resin designed to resemble bekkō (鼈甲, tortoiseshell). The slender, cylindrical form with a domed finial and hollowed shaft reflects the traditional kogai style once paired with kushi combs in formal coiffures.

This later resin example captures the natural beauty of bekkō at a time when synthetic substitutes were prized for their durability and accessible elegance. The alternating amber translucence and dark streaks create a vivid pattern that glows in the light—a hallmark of refined pre-war accessory design.

A fine representative of Japan’s early 20th-century adaptation of classic Edo-period forms into modern materials.

PLEASE NOTE CONDITION IN PHOTOS

Dimensions: approx. 7¼" (18.5 cm) long
Materials: Striped amber and black resin (bekkō fū)
Period: Taishō–early Shōwa era (c. 1920s–30s)

kogai, kanzashi, Japanese hair ornament, bekkō fū, resin, Shōwa, Taishō, bijin, tortoiseshell pattern, Japanese vintage accessory