Lot 351 D‡α

Since ancient times, the comb has been a basic instrument in the personal hygiene rituals of both men and women. Luxuriously decorated combs made from the exotic and, at the time, very rare and precious material of ivory are only known to have been produced in the Middle Ages. These extraordinary pieces were status symbols, owned exclusively by wealthy ladies, or indeed gentlemen.

The Gothic comb is always decorated on both sides and consists of two rows of teeth, one fine and one wider, above and below the narrative scenes in the centre. The teeth of this comb have not survived, but the mountings show clearly where they would have been. The material has the advantage of being easy to carve but hard enough to remain stable when in use, so the teeth could be sharpened to a fine point.

The wide central area of the comb between the rows of teeth lent itself to decoration. There was space not only for stylised tendril designs but also for figural friezes depicting scenes from courtly romances or occasionally the Bible.
One side of this narrative frieze shows four women depicted in profile walking towards an open gate on the left. They carry tall, narrow candles or torches. They could represent four of the five wise virgins mentioned in Matthew 25:1-13. On the other side of the comb are three women walking towards the left, two of them holding hands, with a tree in the centre. The woman in the back is holding the hand of a fool, who in turn is being held by the tip of his cap by another woman. This scene could refer to the foolish virgins. The comb was therefore probably made for a lady with the aim of moral instruction.