 Peineta crafted ofMother of Pearl | |
| Type | Hair ornament |
|---|---|
| Material | Tortoiseshell,nacre, plastic |
| Place of origin | Spain |
| Introduced | 19th century |
Apeineta is a large female head ornament held to the hair by a row of teeth and usually worn under amantilla, or lace covering the head. It is traditional inSpain and the rest of theHispanic world.[1]
The hair ornament, worn by women, consists of a convex body and a set of teeth that affix it to hair worn in abun. The peineta was once made oftortoise shell, but is now usually made of synthetic materials such as acrylic or plastic.[2]
The origin of the peineta goes back to the 19th century inSpain, but there is evidence of its use on theIberian Peninsula as early as the 5th century BCE and in other areas from the 17th century. It is used today primarily during special occasions such as weddings, bullfights,Holy Week processions, and traditional performances offlamenco music.
Between the mid-1820s and the mid-1830s, the fashion for a new type of headpiece known aspeinetón—derived from the Spanish peineta—became widespread among elite women in theRío de la Plata cities ofBuenos Aires andMontevideo, and had a great impact on the society of the time.[3][4] Peinetones were characterized by their overly large size, measuring up to 120 centimetres (3 feet 11 inches) in height and width at the height of their popularity.[5]
The peineta is usually worn with amantilla, a veil worn over the head and shoulders. The mantilla is also a common element of someValencian andAndalusian costumes.
In some countries, such asChile, it is known aspeinetas a los peines, while in thePhilippines it is referred to aspayneta, often much smaller than its Iberian ancestor and may be bejewelled or made of gold.
From Spanish 'peinar' and Latin 'pectinare' "to comb".[6]