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Monday, March 15, 2010

Today's WORD-A-DAY: AIGRETTE


An Aigrette is a hairpin or hatpin usually in the shape of flowers or feathers on a long stem. Also known as a "turban pin" because it originally adorned the turbans of sultans and harem favorites, the aigrette has always been considered a symbol of power and worthiness. Jeweled aigrettes would even be used to adorn the heads of horses at equestrian events.

3 comments:

Kat Barton said...

I love these old hat pins. They started making new ones, and I love them to. This is just the best blog I have read lately. Love it!

Owly said...

I agree. This is such a decadent blog for us cobweb and attic explorers.

How is aigrette pronounced?

Datin Mardhiah Md Zin said...

Over in Malaysia, we do have hairpins such as the aigrette, worn by ladies in the courts of the Malacca Sultanate. Similarly, these haripins are also worn by the Nyonyas in Malacca and Penang. Most hairpins are embedded with intan, although some are adorned with semi-precious stones like ruby and emerald.
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