Throughout history, combs have been used for various purposes, including hair grooming, scalp stimulation, and even as a symbol of status and wealth. The earliest evidence of combs dates to ancient Egypt, where they were made from ivory, wood, or bone. These combs were used for personal grooming, and could hold religious and cultural significance. The Egyptian Book of the Dead recalls spell 125 which states that one shouldn’t speak unless they are “clean, dressed in fresh clothes, shod in white sandals, painted with eye-paint, anointed with the finest oil of myrrh.”
Decorated Coptic Wooden Comb
£ 750.00
A delicate Coptic wooden comb with a decorated carved handle. The comb part at the top is carefully incised to create long fine teeth. The rectangular base is supported by a carved stylised figure of a rider on a horse, possibly holding a spear or an arrow in one hand. The composition is decorated with incised annules on both sides. It is possible that the comb had a section with wider teeth below the figure creating a double sided comb which did not survive. The piece comes with a custom-made stand.
Weight without the stand: 21g
Dims without the stand: 11cm x 5.7cm
Provenance: Ex J.P. collection, 1960s. Private collection London, UK, 1980s. From the private collection of J.L., Surrey, UK, 2000s.
Condition: Very fine condition. Most of the teeth are intact with some slightly bent. Teeth on either edge of the comb are now broken. Small cracks around the edges of the figure. The comb possibly had a third part with wider teeth, now lost.
| Weight | 70.3 g |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | W 7.1 x H 13.1 cm |
| Material | Wood |
| Region | North Africa |
Reference: For a similar item: The British Museum, item EA57380
