A pretty fan shaped cut out hair comb in buffalo horn

 

CONDITION: good vintage condition with accepted wear

 

SIZE: 6 ins h x 4 ins w (15 x 10 cm) decorative part 3½ ins h (9 cm)

 

APPROXIMATE DATE: 1970s

 

MATERIALS: buffalo horn

 

DESCRIPTION:

 

Here is an attractive fan shaped hair comb made from water buffalo horn. It has a pretty pierced design which is traditional to the island of Java, Indonesia, from whence it comes. It was made in the 1970s and I purchased it there myself during my first visit to the region.

 

These attractive little fan shaped combs are widely made for the local tourist trade. In some the horn is left in its natural colouration and in others it is dyed to resemble tortoiseshell.