A fine Ancient Egyptian wood comb, dating to the Coptic Period. The comb is rectangular in plan with fine-cut teeth on one end and wider teeth on the other. The middle of the comb is decorated with a semicircular panel featuring on both sides a low-relief carving of a ram surrounded by vegetation. There is some damage to the finer teeth of the comb as consistent with age and use. The piece is supplied with a custom-made display stand. Throughout history, combs have been used for various purposes, including hair grooming, scalp stimulation, and even as a symbol of status and wealth. The earliest evidence of combs dates to ancient Egypt, where they were made from ivory, wood, or bone. These combs were used for personal grooming, and could hold religious and cultural significance. The Egyptian Book of the Dead recalls spell 125 which states that one shouldn’t speak unless they are “clean, dressed in fresh clothes, shod in white sandals, painted with eye-paint, anointed with the finest oil of myrrh.” The ram was associated with the god Khnum, who is most frequently depicted with a ram’s head. He was one of the earliest deities to be celebrated in Egypt, and was originally the god of the source of the river Nile. He was also a god of birth and creation, as it was believed that Khnum made babies out of clay, using his potter’s wheel, and placed them in their mother’s wombs. The river Nile, rich in nutrients and good soil, was a wonderful source of life and sustenance. Khnum was therefore known as a protector and guardian, especially in relation to children. Measurements: L 9.3cm x W 6cm x D 0.4cm Provenance: Ex J.P. collection, 1960s. Private collection London, UK, 1980s. From the private collection of J.L., Surrey, UK, 2000s.