Art Nouveau Hair Comb With Orchid Blossoms Coloring Page

Rene Lalique made combs like this in horn and gold, and they are some of the purest Art Nouveau objects that survive. Three orchids open across the head of this one, the center bloom facing you square and the two outer ones turning away in profile. Behind them a pair of long carved wings sweeps out to both edges and ends in loose spirals, and below the flowers seven tapered teeth drop down in a clean even row. The teeth are the easy part and the flowers are the reward. Orchid petals are wide and nearly empty, so they hold a gradient well. Work from a pale edge into a deeper throat and the bloom gains depth immediately, and a contrasting tone in the small ruffled lip at the center of each flower finishes it. Lalique worked in translucent horn, so a warm amber or a smoky blond across the comb body and teeth is the historically honest choice. Keep the sweeping wings to one flat tone. They exist to frame the orchids, and coloring them as brightly costs the piece its shape.