Context (Field collection)
Collected 5 February 1951
Event Date 5/2/1951
Author: Katrina Dring

Context (Production / use)
Catalogue card: 'In use the comb is held at an angle of 45-50 degrees and drawn upwards through the hair. The comb is rated of good quality. Wooden combs said to be very efficient for function they fulfil. European type combs are sold in markets, mainly by pedlars, and in Kikuyu owned shops (Nduka). Puchased in Kahuti Market, Fort Hall.'
Event Date 1999
Author: Katrina Dring

Context (Amendments / updates)
For further information on this collection see the notes section of the database record for 1999.20 A-B. See Dr Fisher's notes in the paper archives.
Event Date 1999
Author: maa

Description (Physical description)
Catalogue card: 'Comb consists of a flat handle about 11.4 cm long and ten pointed teeth. Each tooth is about 10.4 cm long and 0.4 cm wide at the top tapering to about 0.1 cm at the tip. Space between each at its junction with the handle is about 0.2 cm. Handle has five different widths giving it a distinctive shape. At the top the width is about 4.4 cm, about 4 cm lower it is some 6 cm and from here it gradually narrows for about 6.2 cm to a 'waist' with a width of 2.8 cm. At about 1.8 cm below the 'waist' the width is 7.2 cm and at about 2.4 cm from here it becomes very slightly wider at the 'toothline' at 7.4 cm where noticeable changes in width occur over a short space, for example, at the top and just below the 'waist', curved edges around the point of change add a touch of refinement to the comb. Thickness of wood forming the handle varies very slightly from about 0.6 cm - 0.8 cm. Colour reddish brown. Undecorated. Handle and teeth are carved from one piece of wood from the Muringa tree (Cordia Abyssinica).'
Event Date 1999
Author: maa

Context (Display)
On display in the 'Origins of the Afro Comb: 6000 years of Culture, Politics and Identity' exhibition at the Fitzwilliam Museum July 1-November 3 2013. The exhibition label states: 'Wood and dye hair comb
Before 1951
From Kahuti, Fort Hall District, Kenya
Kikuyu culture
Made by a Kikuyu artist, Collected and donated by J. Fischer'.
Event Date 23/7/2013
Author: Remke van der Velden

Description (Physical description)
Gicanuri. Wooden comb with ten tapering prongs, rounded shoulders and a handle flaring towards the end but with cut corners; remains of red pigment on prongs and handle.
Event Date 15/3/2022
Author: Katrina Dring