Vintage Balenciaga Heart Motif Hair Decoration 1980s
By Balenciaga
Located in Wilmslow, GB
A sculptural vintage Balenciaga hair accessory dating to the 1980s, defined by its bold heart motif and architectural presence. Balenciaga’s jewellery...
Starting as a modest boutique, Balenciaga evolved to transform the landscape of women’s fashion with shapes and contours during the middle of the 20th century that were nothing less than groundbreaking. Today, the brand is as venturesome as ever and is well known for its shoes, handbags, sneakers, streetwear and other clothing and accessories.
Though he was born in the quiet fishing village of Getaria in Spain’s Basque region, Cristóbal Balenciaga (1895–1972) was destined to reshape modern fashion. As a child, he worked alongside his seamstress mother. Showing immense talent, he earned commissions as a teenager from local patron Marquesa de Casa Torres, who paid for his tailoring education in Madrid. In 1917, he established his first haute couture house — named Eisa, for his mother — in the trendy resort town San Sebastián. He soon followed it with boutiques in Madrid and Barcelona, drawing such clientele as the Spanish royal family.
When the Spanish Civil War put a hold on his prospects in Spain, the designer moved to Paris, opening a house on Avenue Georges V in 1937. There, Balenciaga rubbed elbows with fashion greats like Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli and quickly won over clients like Gloria Guinness, Pauline de Rothschild and Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor.
As a couturier, Balenciaga drew from his Spanish heritage for ideas, riffing on everything from matador costumes and flamenco dresses to the paintings of Diego Velázquez, whose portraits of Spanish princesses famously inspired Balenciaga’s Infanta gown.
An expert tailor, he experimented with sculptural silhouettes that didn’t follow the body. Some of his notable designs include the 1953 balloon jacket, and from 1957, the cocoon coat, the baby-doll dress and the sack dress, which he popularized with his good friend designer Hubert de Givenchy. All of these could be considered not just the masterpieces of haute couture, but also objets d’art in their own right, leading to Balenciaga’s nickname, “The Master.”
Balenciaga continued designing until 1968, when he retired after three decades of influential work and his fashion house went dormant. The rights to Balenciaga were acquired by Jacques Bogart S.A. in 1986. Under designer Michel Goma, who focused on ready-to-wear, the brand experienced a resurgence, with his first collection introduced in 1987.
The brand returned to high fashion with the arrival of designer Josephus Thimister in 1992. It has since been led by a series of creative directors who have paid homage to Balenciaga’s iconic designs, including Nicolas Ghesquière, Alexander Wang and, most recently, Demna Gvasalia. In 2011, a museum celebrating Balenciaga’s legacy opened in his hometown in Spain, commemorating where it all began.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Balenciaga crossbody bags, tote bags, day dresses, shirts and more.
Vintage Balenciaga Heart Motif Hair Decoration 1980s
By Balenciaga
Located in Wilmslow, GB
A sculptural vintage Balenciaga hair accessory dating to the 1980s, defined by its bold heart motif and architectural presence. Balenciaga’s jewellery...
An arcaheological revival suite attributed to Guliano
By Carlo Giuliano
Located in London, GB
An arcaheological revival demi-parure, attributed to Guliano, consisting of a pair of earrings and pendant in the form of amphorae, with fine wire-work and white enamel decorations,...
18k Gold
Alexander Calder Hair Comb
By Alexander Calder
Located in New Orleans, LA
Alexander Calder 1898-1976 American Hair Comb Brass wire This exceptional brass wire hair comb by Alexander Calder exemplifies the artist's revolutionary approach to sculptural f...
Brass
A late Victorian diamond-set tiara
Located in London, GB
A late Victorian diamond-set tiara, the five openwork foliate garland design sections graduating in size from the centre, each featuring three old-European cut diamonds within a pear...
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Silver
A Victorian Holbeinesque emerald, diamond and pearl suite
Located in London, GB
A Victorian Holbeinesque emerald, diamond and pearl suite, consisting of a necklace and a pair of earrings, the necklace with five octagonal-cu...
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Gold
Avant-Garde Silver Headdress made by Swedish master Carl Martenz
Located in Stockholm, SE
This sterling silver headdress features a minimalist and avant-garde design, consisting of thin, metal wire-like elements that create a fluid, abstract shape. The surface of the silv...
Silver
$760
H 4.26 in W 4.14 in D 0.99 in
Antique 1st Half 19th Century French Silver Hair Comb Hair Ornament
Located in Munich, Bavaria
This exquisite hair comb was created in the second quarter of the 19th century. The ornamental part of the comb is designed as a series of entwined circles amidst scrollwork to the l...
Silver
Antique Arts and Crafts Silver Plate Tiara Head Ornament
Located in Munich, Bavaria
This extravagant tiara in the Arts and Crafts taste was created out of silver plated copper in the last decade of the nineteenth century out of silver plated copper. The metal shows ...
Silver
Vintage CARTIER Pentagon Mini Lighter Black Lacquered in Box 1984
By Cartier
Located in DELFT, NL
Introducing a creation steeped in the prestigious lineage of Cartier, a maison synonymous with luxurious craftsmanship and elegance since its inception in 1847. Cartier's vintage pie...
Gold Plate
A Lapis And Gold Archaeological Revival Suite
Located in London, GB
A lapis and gold archaeological revival suite, the brooch with an oval shaped carved lapis in the form of a scarab with gold twisted wire frame, surmounted with a realistically carve...
Lapis Lazuli, Gold
$375
H 1 in W 0.75 in
Handcrafted Mexican Sterling Silver Thimble from Taxco Iguala, Floral Scrollwork
Located in Milford, DE
Antique Sterling Silver .925 Thimble with Floral & Scroll Relief – Handcrafted Sewing Collectible A beautifully detailed antique sterling silver .925 thimble, featuring hand-app...
Sterling Silver
$1,966
H 2.76 in W 0.99 in D 0.48 in
Vintage Lacquered CARTIER Les Must Lighter Factory Solid Silver in Box 1970s
By Cartier
Located in DELFT, NL
Cartier, a name synonymous with timeless elegance and sophistication, has been crafting pieces that transcend mere functionality, becoming cherished symbols of prestige and legacy fo...
Silver
Vintage Silver Plated Dunhill Rollagas Lighter Satin 1983
By Alfred Dunhill
Located in DELFT, NL
The house of Dunhill, renowned for its exquisite craftsmanship and dedication to precision, has a rich history steeped in tradition and elegance. Since its inception, Dunhill has bee...
Gold Plate