A collection of eight pairs of 'Norene' hat pins

A collection of eight pairs of 'Norene' hat pins,

comprising: a pair with the Indian peace sign enamelled in green, three pairs with enamelled decoration, a pair decorated with a dragon fly, a plain pair and two other pairs, all on original cardboard backing. (8)

The 'Norene Safety Hat Pin' was an early 20th century patented hat pin by Mrs Dunn. The name comes from a combination of her daughter's names Norah and Irene. The point of one pin slots into the back of the other. They have a wire mesh back to comply with the laws of the day when it was illegal to have the very long hat pins unprotected. The mesh was sometimes sprinkled with perfume to be used as a pomander.