Ancient Egyptian comb fragment from Qarara dated AD 395 – 641

Part of a double ended wooden comb. Probably rectangular in shape, with teeth at both of the narrower ends, separated by a piece of openwork design, of which the edges on two sides alone remain. One end of the comb’s teeth remains, though it is broken off along one side, making it difficult to tell how wide the comb was originally. It has long narrow, rectangular teeth, with a wider rectangular strip at the finished edge. This continues up the comb, presumably flanking the other end of teeth and probably mirrored on the other end of the comb. The strip remains intact along this one side, and is bisected by two rows of three incised lines, which run along the top of the teeth at both ends and on both sides of the comb.

This lines the area of openwork. The openwork appears to have been bordered by a band of wood on each side, two bands being part of the side pieces, and the other two running along the top of the teeth. These bands are decorated on the two remaining ones with groups of three circles each with their central point marked. The groups are arranged in a straight line in the middle of the band, and in a pyramid form at the corners of the bands. Likewise the areas of openwork that remain seem to have been with similar groups of circles. The designs on the bands are repeated on both sides, but those on the openwork appear to be only represented on one side.

Ancient Egyptian comb fragment from Qarara dated AD 395 – 641

Object details

  • Reference: BOLMG:1903.46.48
  • Material: wood
  • Period: Byzantine Period
  • Excavator: B.P. Grenfell
  • Dated: AD 395 - 641
  • Object name: comb fragment
  • Dimensions: Length: 221mm , Width: 67mm , Depth: 10mm
  • Published references: Grenfell B P & Hunt A S Egypt Exploraton Fund Archaeological Reports 1902 - 1903
  • Site: Qarara