Comb 19th-20th century

This wooden comb, crafted by an anonymous artist, features a rich interplay of form and symbolism. Notice first how the comb is structured: the teeth run vertically, supporting an arched frame adorned with stylized faces, capped with a row of seven nearly identical heads. This hierarchical arrangement immediately suggests a structured society or belief system. The faces themselves, marked with red accents, are not mere decoration; they are signs pointing to cultural narratives. The repetition of these faces invites a semiotic reading: Is this repetition designed to amplify the power or significance of these figures? Perhaps it is meant to indicate ancestral lineage. Consider how the artist has employed the material itself, wood, to convey meaning. The choice of wood lends the comb a tactile and organic quality, connecting it to nature and tradition. The comb destabilizes the boundary between the functional and the symbolic. By integrating figural representation, the artist transforms a utilitarian object into an artifact of profound cultural expression.