Ashanti Wood Comb, Ghana, Based

Open-work arches crown a golden brown comb with fine, uneven teeth.

This carved wooden comb from the Ashanti people is Ashanti, from Ghana, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is wood. Wooden combs are made by cutting the teeth with a knife or saw and then smoothing the piece, which gives each comb its own small variations. Comb with a pierced, scalloped crown cut with arches, diamonds and small openings. Below it, a square panel of incised crossed lines sits above about seven thin teeth. The surface is honey brown with darker staining, set on a black block. It is 2 inches wide, 1.25 deep and 9.5 high.

The carver clearly adored a good cutout.