Comb with Putti and Sea Creatures

late 11th–early 12th century

Not on view

Lavishly decorated double-sided combs are often preserved in the treasuries of churches. Such combs conform to types used for personal adornment among the laity and may have passed through several hands before entering the collections of churches to serve ritual purposes. On the current comb, the vigorous design of two youths a hippocamp and a griffin derives from Eastern and Classical motifs, though the wide popularity across the Mediterranean of such imagery makes localization of this comb difficult.

Artwork Details

Title: Comb with Putti and Sea Creatures
Date: late 11th–early 12th century
Culture: Italian
Medium: Elephant ivory
Dimensions: Overall: 3 3/4 x 4 1/2 x 11/16 in. (9.5 x 11.4 x 1.7 cm)
Classification: Ivories-Elephant
Credit Line: The Cloisters Collection, 1966
Object Number: 66.172
Curatorial Department: Medieval Art and The Cloisters

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