**Originally Listed At $1200**
Oceania, Melanesia, Solomon Islands, ca. 19th century CE. An incredibly well-preserved comb carved from hardwood of a sumptuous orange-brown hue. The comb features 18 slender prongs which would be inserted into one's coiffure, a triangular shoulder inlaid with 61 petite mother-of-pearl fragments as well as an American dime from the 1940s, and a smooth handle with a highly stylized anthropomorphic head finial. Combs like this example were typically worn by men on the back of their coiffures so that the handles - in this case with a carved head - were visible. Men wore symbolic combs as status symbols denoting their rank and personal achievements. A wonderful example covered in smooth patina. Size: 4.8" W x 10.2" H (12.2 cm x 25.9 cm); 11.6" H (29.5 cm) on included custom stand.
For a stylistically similar example, please see The British Museum, museum number Oc1976,11.173.
Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection, acquired in 2015; ex-Arte Primitivo Gallery, New York, New York, USA
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance),
we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#154499
Condition
American dime is from the 1940s and is likely a replacement for a missing shell inlay. One shell inlay reattached on left frontal periphery. Minor abrasions to prongs, shoulder, and handle, with light encrustations around some shell inlays, otherwise intact and excellent. Great patina throughout.