Description:

West Africa, Ghana, Ashanti (Asante) people, ca. early 20th century CE. A striking hand-carved wooden comb with an abstract human effigy handle in the form of a disc-shaped head that rises on a slender neck and is surrounded by a circular halo/wreathe-like form with openwork and incised details and then broadens into a rectangular section below that is also decorated with openwork and light crosshatching on its surface - including a heart-shaped pendant necklace suspended from the figure's neck flanked by two leaf forms that are underscored by a band of striated continuous triangles on the front side of the comb. The back also includes a pair of leaves, these underscored by a band of striated diamonds. Above on the verso of the orb surrounding the head are even more incised details. Fifteen long teeth grace the lower section of the comb. Size: 10.625" H (27 cm); 11.75" H (29.8 cm) on included custom stand.

In Ghana, combs have been excavated at Dawu that date to the 17th century CE; European accounts from around this time period also describe Ghanaian people, especially women, wearing them in their hair.

Provenance: private Los Angeles, California USA Collection

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#132175

  • Condition: Minor surface wear and fissures/losses to lower ends of teeth.

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April 5, 2018 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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