South Indian Hair Fork

Bone Hair Drying Fork carved as a Yali

Tamil Nadu or Karnataka, South India

Combs such as this example were used in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in southern India as hair-drying forks by local women with long hair. Most surviving examples are fashioned from brass, copper, or bronze but the example here is somewhat rare being made from carved bone. It has two long prongs that are 12cm in length and a handle carved as a South Indian mythical yali creature standing on a three-tiered lotus base.

Says Cruse (2007, p. 69), fork-like hair-drying combs ‘were traditionally hand-held and manipulated by women, standing outside their dwellings in the open air while drying their hair. The substantial prongs, averaging 4 inches (10.2 cm) in length, would be pulled through strands of hair to lift them away from the scalp and allow the lower layers to dry quickly in the sun and wind.’

The fork here is in fine condition. It has a rich yellow patina and is without any losses or repairs.

Cruse, J., The Comb: Its History and Development, Robert Hale Ltd, 2007.

UK art market