Ashanti Ceremonial Comb: Based

A seated woman, hands on her knees, presides over the teeth below.

This ceremonial comb is Ashanti, from Ghana, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is carved wood. Akan combs are commonly associated with femininity and care, and carved examples were often given as tokens of affection, with figures and symbols adding layers of meaning. The finial is a seated female figure with an elongated head, small features and a ringed neck. Below her, a rectangular panel is incised with triangles and crossing lines, and long slender teeth drop straight down. The wood has a glossy dark patina. It is 3 inches wide and 12 high.

She sits for the duration, and the comb is all the better for it.