comb - Ashanti - Ghana (No reserve price)

Unlike the Akuaba doll, the Ashanti comb (Nkyinkyim) does not stem from a fertility ritual; rather it embodies the social hierarchy, political status, and aesthetic sophistication of the Asante kingdom in Ghana. In this culture, hairstyle is a coded language: the way the hair is braided and the object used to shape it instantly reveal belonging to a caste, rank, or specific function. The combs, often made of precious wood, ivory, or metal, are frequently adorned with symbolic motifs, Adinkra symbols, or animal figures, transforming a utilitarian object into an emblem of power.

The use of the comb is inextricable from the ceremony of installing chiefs and court life. A richly decorated comb is not merely a hygiene tool, but an attribute of royalty, a sign of the wearer’s dignity and connection to the ancestors. The act of grooming thus becomes a ritual preparation for public speaking or receiving honors. The complexity of the Ashanti hairstyle, maintained by these combs, reflects the complexity of Ashanti social organization, where every garment and bodily detail participates in staging authority and in the perpetuation of cosmic and political order. Thus, the comb acts as a vector of cultural memory and legitimation of power within society.

Presentation of our house of expertise

Based in Belgium, our house of expertise and sales specializes in African art and ethnography. A reference seller on Catawiki for more than 8 years, we enjoy a solid reputation and a track record of several hundred sales with a nearly 100% satisfaction rate.

We regularly assist with liquidations, successions, and dispersals of collections, in collaboration with individuals and families in Belgium and neighboring countries. Our approach is rigorous, transparent, and accessible, with many sales offered without reserve prices.

Some pieces that have passed through our hands have joined international private collections and, for some, museum institutions.

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