Hair combs
Dimensions:
wooden comb from Egypt 7.6 × 7.8 cm,
peacocks comb from Byzantium L 7.3 cm,
Leo VI scepter or comb 10.2 × 10.3 × 2.1 cm,
Becket comb from England 8.6 × 8.6 × 1.2 cm
Description:
Combs were used by members of all medieval cultural groups at all social levels. They could be made of wood, bone, or antler, or of more precious material, such as silver or ivory. Many are two-sided: the side with the closely set teeth was used to rid the hair of lice, and the other was used for detangling. Marginalia in the Luttrell Psalter, made in England between 1325 and 1340, show a woman and a mermaid holding a comb.
A wooden comb from thirteenth-century Egypt was probably used by its owner after bathing. It is inscribed with generic good wishes for him or her: “Everlasting glory” and, on the other side, “and Prosperity.”
A poorly preserved and probably much used Byzantine ivory comb of the eleventh century depicts paired peacocks at a fountain on one side and a griffin battling a lion on the other. Animal motifs are often represented on Byzantine combs, but the drinking peacocks are also found on Byzantine chancel screens: the image was appropriate in multiple contexts and scales. A Byzantine ivory object long thought to be a scepter handle may be the comb of Emperor Leo VI (r. 886–912), shown with the Theotokos adding a jewel to his crown. If it is a comb, it had teeth only on one side. If this controversial reidentification is correct, the imperial and saintly iconography—Mary and Gabriel, Peter and Paul, Kosmas and Damian—is unique on a comb but widespread in other media.
A large number of surviving combs from medieval Europe are thought to have been used by priests as part of their ritual preparations for celebrating mass or performing other ceremonies. It was important that no stray hairs or lice should fall into the chalice. An ivory comb carved in England in the early thirteenth century shows, on one side, King Henry II naming Thomas Becket archbishop of Canterbury, a historical event that occurred in 1162. The other side shows what happened eight years later, when Becket was murdered by four knights at Henry's behest. They cut off the top of Becket's scalp, so this grisly subject was especially appropriate for an object associated with the head. As with the Byzantine peacocks comb, the imagery here could also be found on a wide range of monumental works. Combs could carry ideological messages in addition to serving practical functions.
A few combs closely associated with saintly individuals became relics after their death. For example, St. Cuthbert was buried with a double-sided, undecorated ivory comb in the seventh century, and it was found in his coffin at Durham Cathedral. Hagiographers reported that it was used to comb the saint's still-growing hair after his death.
A wooden comb from thirteenth-century Egypt was probably used by its owner after bathing. It is inscribed with generic good wishes for him or her: “Everlasting glory” and, on the other side, “and Prosperity.”
A poorly preserved and probably much used Byzantine ivory comb of the eleventh century depicts paired peacocks at a fountain on one side and a griffin battling a lion on the other. Animal motifs are often represented on Byzantine combs, but the drinking peacocks are also found on Byzantine chancel screens: the image was appropriate in multiple contexts and scales. A Byzantine ivory object long thought to be a scepter handle may be the comb of Emperor Leo VI (r. 886–912), shown with the Theotokos adding a jewel to his crown. If it is a comb, it had teeth only on one side. If this controversial reidentification is correct, the imperial and saintly iconography—Mary and Gabriel, Peter and Paul, Kosmas and Damian—is unique on a comb but widespread in other media.
A large number of surviving combs from medieval Europe are thought to have been used by priests as part of their ritual preparations for celebrating mass or performing other ceremonies. It was important that no stray hairs or lice should fall into the chalice. An ivory comb carved in England in the early thirteenth century shows, on one side, King Henry II naming Thomas Becket archbishop of Canterbury, a historical event that occurred in 1162. The other side shows what happened eight years later, when Becket was murdered by four knights at Henry's behest. They cut off the top of Becket's scalp, so this grisly subject was especially appropriate for an object associated with the head. As with the Byzantine peacocks comb, the imagery here could also be found on a wide range of monumental works. Combs could carry ideological messages in addition to serving practical functions.
A few combs closely associated with saintly individuals became relics after their death. For example, St. Cuthbert was buried with a double-sided, undecorated ivory comb in the seventh century, and it was found in his coffin at Durham Cathedral. Hagiographers reported that it was used to comb the saint's still-growing hair after his death.
Relevant Textbook Chapter(s):
5,
6,
7,
8,
9,
10
Repository and Online Resources:
• The wooden comb from Egypt is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MMA 38.118.17).
• The Byzantine peacocks comb is in the British Museum (OA.1412)
• The comb or scepter of Leo VI is in the Museum für Byzantinische Kunst, Staatliche Museen in Berlin.
• The Becket comb is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (1988.279).
• The Luttrell Psalter is fully digitized on the British Library website.
