Comb topped by two birds. Late Shang dynasty - early Zhou dynasty (10th/7th century BC), China, C--.J LI OU.

Comb topped by two birds. Late Shang dynasty - early Zhou dynasty (10th/7th century B.C.), China, C--.J LI OU.
Ivory dyed to resemble malachite or jadeite.
Some teeth missing, no restorations.
Provenance: Private collection, Paris, Karim Grusenmeyer Gallery, Brussels.
Measurements: 9.7 x 1.5 x 6.5 cm.

This exquisite ivory comb, of singular formal elegance, is a rare example of ritual utilitarian art from the transition between the Shang and Zhou dynasties, a time of profound political, religious and aesthetic transformation in the Sinocentric world. Carved with superb skill from ivory dyed to imitate the greenish veined tone of semi-precious stones such as malachite or jadeite (both associated in ancient Chinese culture with longevity, spiritual purity and immortality), the object is part of a tradition that valued both the functionality and cosmological symbolism of personal adornment. The upper part of the comb, in the form of an architrave, is crowned by two facing birds, possibly stylizations of phoenixes or fenghuang, symbols associated with nobility, cosmic harmony and the cyclical renewal of order. Their symmetrical arrangement not only gives visual balance to the piece, but could allude to notions of yin-yang duality and universal complementarity. Although some teeth are missing -probably due to the fragility of the material and the passage of time-, the structure remains intact and unrestored, which increases its archaeological and documentary value. In the ritual or funerary sphere, objects like this could have accompanied individuals of high position, serving both as personal grooming items and as markers of status and refinement.