A classic India dressing comb in pierced and fretted wood with decorative lattice

 

CONDITION: good vintage condition with expected wear

 

SIZE:

2½ ins h x 4 ins w (6 x 10 cm)

 

APPROXIMATE DATE: early 20^th century

 

MATERIALS: wood

 

DESCRIPTION:

 

Here is a fine example of a pierced Indian H comb supplied in a fitted case. It is made from hard wood and has an intricate design similar to that seen on traditional Indian mashrabiya lattices and screens.

 

This type of comb offers two sets of teeth, one noticeably broader and more widely spaced than the other. This makes it an ideal instrument for grooming both fine and coarser sections of hair. Double sided H shaped combs are typically carved out from one piece of the material, whether wood, bone, or tortoiseshell. The end pieces are typically much thicker than those in the centre. This serves the function of protecting the inner more delicate teeth. It also provides scope for decoration which is typically done on the centre panel and both sides of the end pieces.

 

FURTHER INFORMATION:

The large and diverse range of wooden grooming combs found in north west India and the regions of what is now Pakistan show much cross fertilization of basic ideas. Hand crafted from local woods they range from unadorned combs to elaborately decorated ones. Surface carving and piercing. H shaped combs display both coarse and fine teeth in the standard pattern.

Dr Hentschel assembled an extensive collection of varied historic artefacts which were recently sold at a Berlin auction house. These included many decorative and vanity combs gathered from her travels. Many of the items were added during the 1920s and 1930s. However the collection was still being expanded into the early 2000s. Most of the combs bear labels showing their origin, and date when they were added to the collection, often with additional notes by the collector.