Large Bamboo Comb

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. Kanak, New Caledonia, Melanesia. Bamboo. 19 x 19 x 0,3 cm. 19th century.

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.