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Turtle shell comb

Tufi District, Oro Province, Papua New Guinea
Turtle shell comb
 (20th century)

Medium
turtle shell, shell, wild banana seed, fibre string

Measurements
23.0 × 11.2 × 1.0 cm

Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Gift of Louise and Sam Dawson, 2008
© the artists

Reproduction requests

Gallery location
Not on display

Artwork Details

Place/s of Execution
Tufi District, Oro Province, Papua New Guinea

Accession Number
2008.328

Department
Pacific Art

This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Vizard Foundation

Physical description
A decorative hair comb with holes at the outer rim with some 19 or 20 tassels; each with five or six small shell discs topped off with a banana seed. This hair comb is engraved with the unique Oro pattern or 'arrow heads' or 'chevrons' which are sometimes carved into lime spatulas, headrests and traditional clay pots from Oro Province.

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