“Owl’s eyes” comb
Surinam. Second half 20th century. Wood. Gift in 1905 from Pauline and Marie
Micheli, respectively widows of Jean-Louis and his son Marc Micheli, both close
to the Genevan Protestant elite and the missions; context of creation not documented.
MEG Inv. ETHAM 003531
These two combs show successive tembe styles. The style termed
“owl’s eyes”, practised in the second half of the 19th century,
is characterized by two central, round holes, an absence of
superposition and an undecorated surface. The principle of
interlacing, done using a dry point compass, arrived in the early
20th century and has been dominant up until now with constant
changes. T. Mouzard
