Not currently on display at the V&A

Comb

Comb
ca. 1700 - ca. 1750 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
France (made)

This ivory comb is probably French dating from ca. 1700-1750. The ivory is decorated with a crown and scroll ornamentation in minute silver piqué and horn; the teeth are very fine and delicately worked. The form of decoration occurred mainly in France and Britain during the eighteenth century.


Object details

Categories
Accessories
Sculpture
Object type
Comb
TitleComb (named collection)
Materials and techniques
Carved ivory in minute silver piqué and horn
Ivory
Silver
Horn
Carving
Piqué Work
Brief description
Comb, ivory and silver piqué work, with crown and scrolls decoration, probably French, ca. 1700-1750
Physical description
Ivory comb decorated with a crwon and scrolls in a minute silver piqué and horn. The teeth are very fine.
Dimensions
  • Height: 9cm
  • Width: 12.6cm
Object history
Bought for £3 in 1859 (Soulages Collection).
Subject depicted
Ornaments
Summary
This ivory comb is probably French dating from ca. 1700-1750. The ivory is decorated with a crown and scroll ornamentation in minute silver piqué and horn; the teeth are very fine and delicately worked. The form of decoration occurred mainly in France and Britain during the eighteenth century.
Bibliographic references
  • Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Carvings in Ivory. Part II. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1929, p. 83
  • Inventory of Art Objects Acquired in the Year 1859. In: Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, Arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol I. London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868, p. 32
  • Robinson, John Charles. Catalogue of the Soulages Collection. London: Chapman & Hall, 1856, no. 286 on p. 92
  • Winter, F. Die Kämme alter Zeiten von der Steinzeit bis zur Gegenwart (The Rake’s Progress, Leipzig, 1906, cat. no. 127, pl. 43
  • Trusted, Marjorie, Baroque & Later Ivories, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 2013, cat. no. 252, p. 269
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
5606-1859

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O349465/comb-comb-unknown/
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