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Basic Information | Accession Number: | 1965T2580 |
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Collection: | Social History - Pinto Collection |
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Date: | 1500 - 1600 |
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Notes | 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. | Purchased from Edward H Pinto, 1965. |
Further Information | Production Period: | 16th century |
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Medium: | Carved. |
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Material(s): | Boxwood |
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Place of Origin: | France or England |
Dimensions | Height: | 19.5 cm |
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Width: | 13.4 cm |
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