Description & Technical information
An extremely fine, and very large bamboo comb worn both by men and women. Carved in one piece from a section of semi-flattened bamboo, it has the upper band delicately engraved with linear designs. The extremities are decorated with lateral panels of large incised reversed triangles with hash-mark filling. The comb has 26 long, thin teeth in perfect condition.
Date: 19th century
Period: 1850-1900, 19th century
Origin: Melanesia, New Caledonia, Kanak
Medium: Bamboo
Dimensions: 19 x 19 x 0.3 cm (7¹/₂ x 7¹/₂ x 0¹/₈ inches)
Provenance: Collected by Magistrate Henri Louit (1846-1905) between 1890 and 1894 at Bourail in New Caledonia. Subsequently the family home of Puntis in the Gers, South West France. By descent to Alice Guermont, then to Jean-Louis Despiau then to his daughter Hugette Fabre (née Despiau). Collection of André & Hugette Fabre, Toulouse.
Categories: Tribal Art
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Galerie Meyer-Oceanic Art
Tribal Art dealer specializing in early Oceanic Art since 1980 and archaic Eskimo Art since 2010
