comb
- Museum number
- Oc1988,04.3
- Description
-
Comb ornament of separate wooden sticks bound and patterned with vine-strip of red-stained coconut cuticle and yellow orchid fibre.
- Dimensions
-
Height: 17 centimetres
-
Width: 4.70 centimetres
-
Depth: 0.60 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- Information from David Akin:
Lofe'e kiokio design (breast of kiokio or kingfisher bird) by Waneagea of 'Afou hamlet. These combs are called faa or 'alabafaafao. They are made and worn by men in the hair, usually above the ear, as decoration. In 1979 only three men in Kwaio made these combs, but the Kwaio Cultural Centre began to teach both men and women how to make them. They are still worn at mortuary feasts and other special occasions. See the eth doc for manufacturing and design techniques.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1988
- Acquisition notes
- Purchased from the collector, David Akin.
- Department
- Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- Registration number
- Oc1988,04.3