Description:

Oceania, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, & Tonga, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. A collection of South Pacific combs hand-carved and woven together from wood and rattan. The smallest Tongan comb is bound together with woven fiber to form a slowly widening body with a small handle and jaunty feather. The Papua New Guinea comb is carved from a single piece and etched with triangular motifs. The largest comb is from the Solomon Islands and has long thin teeth held together with rattan weave and resin. Combs were an important part of personal ornamentation on heads and beards in the South Pacific and distinguished people might have attendants responsible for caring and styling their hair with these combs. Size of largest: 8.3" L x 2.5" W (21.1 cm x 6.4 cm); 12.75" H (32.4 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Newport Beach, California Collection

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#141753

  • Condition: Handle on smallest comb is broken off and feather is frayed to almost just a quill. The largest comb has losses to the rattan weaving and resin and loss to handle tip. PNG wood comb is intact with some patina and discoloration.

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June 1, 2023 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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