CURRY COMB

An incomplete Post Medieval iron curry comb probably dating to 17th - early 18th century. This is a flat curry comb with 7 wrought bars and 2 knockers, the handle is broken and missing. This curry comb comprises a flat rectangular back plate, the longer edges are folded over and the a row of triangular teeth have been cut into the edge. There are five further toothed bars that have been riveted onto the back plate. The ends of the central toothed bar project around to the back surface of the back plate and terminate in solid knops that form the knockers. Only one is surviving. The handle was also riveted to the back plate, on the opposite side to the teeth. The handle had an elaborate terminal that is still attached to the back plate. This terminal forms a cross-shape with three flaring arms and one smaller, triangular shaped arm with decorative triangular cutouts. The upper arm that would have formed the base of the handle has a central raised rib. There are three surviving rivets which have domed heads; two in the upper arm and one central to the cross. There are semi-circular cutouts in the three other arms which originally may have housed rivets. Small areas of the back plate are missing and one of the shorter edges has been damaged and now curls back on itself.

A similar example is illustrated in Clark (1995:161 fig. 119) as part of a 1929 catalogue of stable equipment. Clark writes "a comb of this flat type is reported from a post medieval (17th or early 18th century) context at Ardingly (W. Sussex), comparte two examples from Jamestown, Virginia." John Clark has studied this example and he is happy with a date of 17th - early 18th century although he notes that the type continues into the early 20th century. Egan (2005: 186 no. 1060a) publishes a curry comb of similar form that was excavated from a context dated 1650-1700.

Dimensions: length: 96.04mm; width: 142.25mm; thickness: 19.05mm; weight: 283g.

Reference: Clark, J. (ed) 1995. The Medieval Horse and its Equipment. HMSO: London.

Egan, G. 2005. Material Culture in London in an Age of Transition. MoLAS Monograph 19. English Heritage: London.