A rare Jamaican engraved tortoiseshell wig comb, circa 1680;...

Hammer

£1,200

A rare Jamaican engraved tortoiseshell wig comb, circa 1680; probably by Paul Bennett of Port Royal; finely decorated to each side with trailing and fruiting foliage; with teeth along both long sides; 19.5 x 12.3cm; (losses) NOTE: This very scarce comb -extremely similar to others in a small group of fine examples made in Jamaica between 1671 - 1682 and 1688 - 1692, is almost identical in its form and decoration to an example that was part of a cased, two-piece set, sold at Bonhams London, Fine Decorative Arts 1200-1900, 23rd June 2021, lot 35. Research suggests two possible makers for these pieces. The first and most likely to have made the example above was Paul Bennett, who is listed as the only comb maker working in Port Royal at this time, and the second is likely to have been his son. There are eleven of these combs in The Institute of Jamaica, all bearing singularly similar treatment of the decoration. The dated examples of Jamaican tortoiseshell combs have performed noticeably well at auction. Other than the Bonhams example above (dated for 1670), another pair dated for 1673, also with Bonhams, Fine English Furniture, 21st Nov 2012, achieved £23,750 (inc. prem.); Also see Victoria & Albert Museum, combs and case, dated 1673 (524 to B-1877)