Comb with Putti and Sea Creatures

Unknown

late 11th–early 12th century · Elephant ivory · The Cloisters

Lavishly decorated double-sided combs are often preserved in the treasuries of churches. Such combs conform to types used for personal adornment among the laity and may have passed through several hands before entering the collections of churches to serve ritual purposes. On the current comb, the vigorous design of two youths a hippocamp and a griffin derives from Eastern and Classical motifs, though the wide popularity across the Mediterranean of such imagery makes localization of this comb difficult.

Artist

Unknown

Date

late 11th–early 12th century

Medium

Elephant ivory

Culture

Italian

Department

The Cloisters

Credit line

The Cloisters Collection, 1966