Comb Item Number: Ac249 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Dark brown coloured wood comb made from one piece. It has thirteen long, tapered, thick teeth, with uneven spacing and carving and some that are slightly angled. The handle is rectangular and is patterned with triangles composed of incised parallel lines alternating with plain areas. The two sides of the comb differ. Projecting vertically from two top corners are two plain, geometric-shaped standing birds facing one another, silhouette-like with long beaks; beak of one broken off.
History Of Use
Placed in hair set with red mud and castor oil. Combs used as a headdress hold coiffure together. The birds facing one another are likely hornbills (ngungu).
Cultural Context
hair styling; decorative
Narrative
The collector, Nellie Taylor, served as a nursing missionary (1900-1920), first with the Ovimbundu at Bihe, then with the Chokwe at luma Kasai. She belonged to a group who sponsored several missions across Central Africa from 1881-1931.
Item History
- Made in Luma Kasai, Angola before 1920
- Collected between 1900 and 1920
- Owned by Nellie Taylor
- Owned by Gladys G. Cameron before January 12, 1979
- Received from Gladys G. Cameron (Donor) on January 12, 1979
What
Who
- Culture
- Chokwe
- Previous Owner
- Nellie Taylor and Gladys G. Cameron
- Received from
- Gladys G. Cameron (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Luma Kasai, Angola
When
- Creation Date
- before 1920
- Collection Date
- between 1900 and 1920
- Ownership Date
- before January 12, 1979
- Acquisition Date
- on January 12, 1979
Other
- Condition
- fair
- Current Location
- Case 100
- Accession Number
- 0509/0022