H-Comb, 1500-1600. Made in France or England. Pinto Collection - Purchased from Edward H Pinto, Richly carved boxwood combs were given as expensive love tokens in medieval times. The carver chose boxwood because it was the only wood with a sufficiently straight and dense grain to allow him to carve such fine teeth without splitting. He cut the teeth using a double-bladed saw called a stadda. A skilled craftsman with a steady hand could usually cut up to fifty teeth per inch.

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Size: 3999px × 2305px
Photo credit: © piemags/RTM / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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