kushi (comb)

kushi (comb) , 1800s, Edo period (1600–1868)

Where object was made: Japan

Material/technique: wood; lacquer; mother of pearl inlay

Credit line: William Bridges Thayer Memorial

Accession number: 1928.0200

Not on display

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Thayer Today

Japanese women wore kushi, or ornamental hair combs, similar to this one, during the Edo period (1600–1868). Workshops produced these accessories in a variety of materials such as ivory, wood, tortoiseshell, metal, and red lacquer. On this comb, two fish, made of mother of pearl, swim amongst an inlay of sea grass. Sallie Casey Thayer collected many other examples of kushi. Thayer’s interest in these pieces was part of a larger trend among American and European collectors for Japanese objects.
Look for this kushi in the 20/21 gallery in the display case Material World: Adornment from around the Globe.
Using folding fans as decorative objects and handheld accessories is a behavior that spans continents and centuries. Folding fans were an essential fashion accessory for European women in the 18th and 19th centuries. Women used these fans to cool themselves and to communicate non-verbal messages in social situations.

Archive Label 2003:
The mother-of-pearl fish on this comb shimmer when caught in light. Kushi were a popular luxury item during the Edo period. Women used them not only to style their hair, but also to embellish their elaborate coiffures. Typically, the comb was worn with its prongs stuck into the front of a large topknot on the crown of the head. Kushi were decorated with many varieties of plant and animal life. The fish on this comb are purely decorative although each of them is different, and they are shown swimming amongst an inlay of sea grasses.