Rare early 19th century French silver and gilt vermeil diadem hair comb. Exhibiting superb detail and excellent craftsmanship with Empire period decoration. Decorated with alternating leaves flanking turquoise cabochons on a textured ground. Surmounted by milgrain textured coils. Crowned with an openwork gallery consisting of finely detailed stylized leaves, mounted with turquoise cabochons arranged as flowers. In very good condition with general wear from use and no missing turquoise stones. As is typical of these old diadems / tiaras, there is some unevenness to the teeth of the comb. Hallmarked with the head of a rabbit or hare. The hare head was typically used on small silver items and is a Parisian guarantee mark (poinçon de garantie) in use from 1819 -1838. The mark indicates a silver content of at least .800/1000 and was placed by the Bureau de Garantie de Paris. To the reverse is a finesse mark of a horse's head with the number 2 below it, to denote a silver finesse of .843/1000 silver, the mark first introduced in 1795. Measures 4 1/8" across x 3 5/8" total height. Weighs 54.6 grams