Head Comb

The comb is one of the prestigious objects of African women. The beauty of its lines indicates the range of its carrier. In Africa, wearing a comb over the head means that it is a major woman freed from certain household chores. Wife of a remarkable or rich man, because the comb prevents him from carrying a load on his head. The comb, like the hairstyle, indicates whether a woman is married or unmarried. It is part of the royalties. The hairstyles of the African woman range from a simple curly hair to the most varied, artistic and laborious forms, which have required for its preservation the manufacture of numerous and showy reclineheads. Hairstyles such as those of Luba women that required up to more than two days for their elaboration and that thanks to the reclineheads could last up to several months. Among these hairstyles stand out the so-called cascade, with platforms that overlap from major to minor and from bottom to top and also the hairstyles on cross on the back of the head. Others such as Ekoi or Ejagam women were made up of artistic braided and interlaced tails forming elegant combinations. The hairstyle in the woman, like the scarifications, describes her bearer, indicating whether she is unmarried, married, widowed or committed, the social class to which she belongs or if she is a member of a certain secret society, the latter being only noticeable by the initiate members of the same society. In addition the hairstyle embellishes the woman and makes her more desirable. Royalties are the material symbols representative of the head's authority. They are the main symbols of power and dignity and can only be carried and possessed by those who wield power. Ceremony swords, flyflies, scepters and command sticks are part of the royalties. Only kings can carry scepters and batons of command. The scepter is, par excellence, the symbol of royal power, to such an extent that even in the absence of the king honors and pleitesy. They are usually delicately sculpted and richly decorated, whether made of wood, bronze or covered with gold foil as in the country. Akan.

This comb or comb presents the head of a woman Gan, and both by its representation and by the metal in which it is manufactured indicates that its owner is a remarkable woman. This piece has been found in an excavation about twenty years ago. It retains all its natural oxidation.