Store p107 Malena Dul Uno HTML: A Collector’s Guide to a 1960s Hair Comb

The code p107 Malena Dul Uno HTML appears on a small, unassuming label glued to the back of a tortoiseshell-effect hair comb. If you have ever held one in your hands, you know the weight of it – not heavy, but substantial. The teeth are smoothly finished, the curve of the spine fits the palm, and the decorative motif – a row of tiny hand-painted enamel forget-me-nots – speaks of a time when hair accessories were made to last decades, not seasons. This is not a mass-produced trinket; it is a piece of British mid-century craftsmanship that deserves a place in any thoughtful collection.

Decoding the Label: What p107 Malena Dul Uno HTML Really Means

Malena Dul Uno was a small London-based design studio active between the late 1950s and early 1970s, known for producing limited runs of hair combs, slides, and barrettes. The name itself – Malena Dul Uno – is a deliberate echo of Italian artisanal traditions, though the workshop was located in Clerkenwell. The label HTML on these pieces stands for “Hand-Tooled, Milled, and Lacquered” – a quality mark that the studio used only for its top-tier output. The prefix p107 is a stock code that corresponds to a specific comb shape: a medium-sized side-comb with a gently scalloped top edge, designed to hold a section of hair without slipping.

The comb itself measures approximately 7.5 cm across and 4 cm tall. The base material is cellulose acetate – a precursor to modern plastics – which was chosen for its ability to take a deep, warm tortoiseshell tone without becoming brittle. Over the acetate, the studio applied a thin layer of clear lacquer to protect the hand-painted enamel details. The forget-me-nots are not decals; each tiny blue petal and yellow centre was applied by a single artisan using a fine sable brush. Under a jeweller’s loupe, you can see the slight irregularity in the brushstrokes – the hallmark of genuine handwork.

Dating Your p107 Comb: Clues in the Construction

Because Malena Dul Uno produced the p107 comb over roughly a ten-year period, subtle variations can help you narrow down the exact year. The earliest examples (circa 1961) have a slightly thicker spine – about 4 mm – and the label is printed in black ink on cream paper. By 1965, the spine had been thinned to 3 mm for a more elegant drape in the hair, and the label switched to a deep navy blue on off-white stock. The final run, from 1969 to around 1972, uses a lighter tortoiseshell acetate with more amber streaks, and the enamel colours are slightly brighter, possibly because the studio changed pigment suppliers.

Another reliable dating clue is the presence of a small, stamped number on the underside of the comb, near the left tooth. Early p107 combs have “B-17” stamped there; later ones show “C-23”. This was the bench number of the artisan who painted the enamel. If you own a comb with no stamp at all, it is likely a later reproduction or a piece from a different studio that copied the Malena Dul Uno design – a common occurrence in the 1990s.

How to Care for Your p107 Malena Dul Uno Comb

Cellulose acetate is sensitive to heat, direct sunlight, and prolonged humidity. To keep your comb in its original condition, follow these practical steps:

• Clean gently – Use a soft, lint-free cloth slightly dampened with distilled water. Never submerge the comb. If the enamel has yellowed, a tiny dab of pure mineral oil on a cotton bud can lift surface grime without stripping the lacquer.
• Store flat – Avoid hanging the comb by its teeth. Instead, place it in a padded box or wrap it in acid-free tissue paper. The teeth can warp if pressure is applied unevenly over years.
• Avoid heat – Keep it away from radiators, hair dryers, and car dashboards. Acetate can begin to distort at temperatures above 50°C.
• Handle by the spine – Oils from your fingers can degrade the lacquer over time. When inspecting the comb, hold it by the thickest part of the spine.

For a deeper dive into archival storage methods for vintage hair accessories, our guide on how to store C6 hair accessories provides a systematic approach that works equally well for the p107 comb.

Styling the p107 Comb in a Modern Wardrobe

The p107 comb’s modest scale makes it surprisingly versatile. It was originally designed to hold a side-swept wave in a beehive or French pleat, but today it can be worn in far more casual ways. One of my favourite looks is to twist a low ponytail into a loose knot, then slide the comb in horizontally just above the nape of the neck. The forget-me-nots peek out like a secret garden detail against a simple cashmere sweater or a crisp white shirt.

For a more dramatic effect, wear two p107 combs – one on each side of a centre part – to anchor a half-up style. Because the enamel is blue and yellow, it pairs beautifully with warm autumnal tones (burnt orange, mustard, forest green) and contrasts elegantly with black or navy. Avoid pairing it with other blue accessories; let the comb be the single focal point.

Where to Find Genuine p107 Combs Today

Because the Malena Dul Uno studio closed in the early 1970s and the p107 was produced in relatively small numbers – perhaps a few hundred pieces per year – genuine examples appear infrequently. The best hunting grounds are British charity shops in affluent areas (the Home Counties often yield surprising finds), antiques fairs in the Cotswolds, and online auction sites with a focus on vintage jewellery. When buying online, always ask the seller for a clear photo of the label and the underside stamp. A comb with a faded or missing label can still be authentic if the construction details match, but the price should reflect the uncertainty.

Be wary of combs that claim to be “Malena Dul Uno style” but lack the HTML mark. These are almost always modern reproductions made in Asia, and while they may look similar at a glance, the enamel is applied by machine and the acetate is thinner and more prone to cracking. A genuine p107 comb will cost between £45 and £90 depending on condition; anything significantly cheaper is unlikely to be original.

A Final Practical Note on the p107’s Enamel

One detail that collectors often overlook is the slight translucency of the blue enamel. On the original p107 combs, the enamel was mixed with a tiny amount of white pigment, giving the petals a milky, almost opalescent quality when light hits them at an angle. Later reproductions use opaque paint that looks flat and solid. If you hold your comb up to a window and the forget-me-nots glow softly, you are holding a piece of London’s mid-century artisan history – a comb that survived fifty years of changing hairstyles and still asks to be worn.