Comb Item Number: 2878/57 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Semi-circular, dark brown, wooden comb, carved from a single piece of wood. The tines of the comb are carved in a semi-circular shape, leaving a border of solid wood along the curved edge of the comb. The comb is thicker along the curved edge, and tapers to a thin, flat edge where the tines taper to a point. There is an incised design on the thicker top edge as well as one on each side of the comb where the tines begin. The pattern on the thick edge is of two diamond shapes on either side of several straight lines in the centre. The pattern on the sides is of a series of circles with dots in the middle set between two solid lines, and the pattern follows the curve of the comb's edge. All of the designs have been painted silver. At each the two corners of the flat edge of the comb, on both sides, there are three pom-poms attached to the wood (12 pom-poms in total). The pom-poms are light green, light red and light yellow.

Narrative

This woman's hair comb is from Dhordawandah Village, a Mutwa community.