Antique East African Swahili Carved Ebony Hair Comb

A beautifully carved wooden hair comb, made in the Swahili region of Zanzibar and Mozambique towards the end of the 19th Century.

The comb is of the usual hourglass shape, with coarse and fine teeth to its top and bottom. Between, it is decorated with borders of concentric rings and horizontal banding.

The comb comes from the Swahili Coastal region and most particularly, the Zanzibar Archipelago. The region has Omani, Portuguese and indigenous cultural influences and perhaps aspects of this comb reflect all these influences. The use of the repeated concentric circle motif also is found on other Zanzibar combs and related items to see a similar comb in the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, UK.

Though rare to appear on the open market, a similar example can be seen in the San Diego Museum of Art, having been bequeathed by Susan and Richard Ulevitch in 2008. 

Unfortunately, the comb is slightly damaged, having lost a couple of its larger teeth.

The Afro comb
The afro comb has long been the product that is used  to create eye-catching and cultural relevant hairstyles for men and women of African descent. For centuries, the afro comb served as a status symbol in many African societies. The comb has also come to denote affiliation with certain groups or tribes and can signify one's religious beliefs or rituals. In ancient society, the handles of the combs are adorned with objects that artistically showcase a person's status. 

Date:
Origin:
Country: Mozambique
Material: Wood
Height: 25 cms
Width: 9 cms
Provenance:

References

Ashton, A.6,000 Years of African Combs, The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, 2013.

Hales, R. Islamic and Oriental Arms and Armour: A Lifetime’s Passion, Robert Hale CI Ltd, 2013.

Herreman, F.In the Presence of Spirits: African Art from the National Museum of Ethnology, Lisbon, Museum for African Art, New York/Snoek-Ducaju & Zoon, Gent, 2000.

Provenance: Personal Collection, France

Expected surface wear with scuffs, chips, abrasions commensurate with age and use. The wood has developed a warm patina resulting from age and use.