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sherigayle
August 30th, 2011, 07:06 AM
My grandmother gave me this little barrette many years ago before she passed away without telling me anything about it. It's gold tone with some wear and it is stamped "Made in France". It measures 2.25"x1.5". Does anyone know when this style of clasp was used?

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/nothingperfect/787be9d1.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/nothingperfect/b823b672.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/nothingperfect/e7dd3ec8.jpg

Cassie 123
August 30th, 2011, 07:57 AM
Since you and I are of similar vintage, I may be missing something when I say that I had many barrettes made during the 1980's with this clasp.

StephanieB
August 30th, 2011, 10:36 AM
I might also be missing something???

I see nothing unique about that clasp. I grew up in the 1960s and 1970s with barrettes seemingly just like that, and I remember using them in the 1980s as well. I still have barrettes with clasps just like that, but I just don't use them much any more.

lapushka
August 30th, 2011, 11:35 AM
They're called "French barrettes". :)

embee
August 30th, 2011, 12:30 PM
The ones made in France were said to be better quality. I never had any made in France, so I don't know about that. I had many of the fabric bow barrettes with that type of clasp though.

Very pretty, if you're careful; don't catch any hairs in the clasp itself or in the spring. :)

teal
August 30th, 2011, 12:52 PM
I used to have a ton of barrettes with clasps like that. They're great for holding less hair because that arch is a kind of spring-loaded holder. Probably used for holding the top half (or less) hair back with the rest long. Plus they were fairly easy to open and close with one hand.

Maybe used for something like this:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_l1yNnumTjVg/TPLsv7hOYYI/AAAAAAAAAj8/Lpifbt_Cq1w/s1600/Lace-Rope-Braided-Half-Up-2.jpg

sherigayle
August 30th, 2011, 02:52 PM
It's not a regular locking clasp like these:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/nothingperfect/smallfrenchbarrette.jpg

But I guess it could be from as recent as the 70's. She still had long hair until the early 70's. She gave it to me some time in the late 80's.

Sagi1982
August 31st, 2011, 09:54 AM
I broke dozens of these in the 80ies and 90ies, so I stopped using them. The clasp is seldom, but I've seen and used this kind before.

Yours seems to be a very pretty one. :D
I recommend them for fixing half-up or ponytails (if they fit your hair).

luvlaughlin
August 31st, 2011, 02:59 PM
I tried to search ebay to see if they had any like it to come up with a vintage. They have something similar but not as nice as yours. The similar ones are not vintage like yours. Yours is very pretty.