Name Pair of clear plastic leaf-form hair barrettes

Name/Title

Name Pair of clear plastic leaf-form hair barrettes

Entry/Object ID

2025.1.120

Description

A matched pair of hair barrettes molded in clear/colorless plastic in a curved, elongated leaf or feather form, each tapering to a point at one end. Each is decorated with applied or molded relief detail — a small flower with surrounding raised dots/beads, and lengthwise ribbing suggesting leaf veining. The reverse of the lower example shows the fastening: a sprung wire clip (now dark/oxidized, likely rusted) anchored to small molded plastic bosses on the back of the barrette, of the bend-over sprung-clip type. The clear plastic has yellowed/clouded slightly with age and shows surface scuffing and small losses. The handmade character is consistent with the maker attribution.

Use

Used by María R. Cabrera Arús and María A. Cabrera Arús.

Context

Nando, the merolico who made them, lived by the amusement park Jalisco Park and died very poor in the late 1990s or early 2000s. He became a merolico after 1959.

Collection

The Cabrera Arús family collection

Acquisition

Accession

2025.1

Made/Created

Time Period

1980s

Notes

Maker Made by "Nando," a family friend of the donor who worked as a merolico (maker of small homemade goods).

Materials

Material Notes

Materials Clear/colorless molded plastic/resin; sprung metal clip wire (oxidized/rusted); molded plastic mounting bosses. Technique Hand-shaped/molded clear plastic in a leaf/feather form with applied or molded floral and dot relief and lengthwise veining; sprung-metal clip mounted to molded bosses on the reverse. Handmade, informal manufacture.

Condition

Overall Condition

Fair

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

María A. Cabrera Arús

Notes

owner

Person or Organization

María R. Cabrera Arús

Notes

owner

Related Places

Place

City

Havana

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Notes

production, use

Created By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Create Date

December 26, 2025

Updated By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Update Date

June 4, 2026