Minneapolis Institute of Art

Beard comb

Unidentified

Date

early 20th century

Medium

Ivory

Culture

Somali

Department

Arts of Global Africa

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

“Trim closely the moustache and grow the beard.” This was the grooming guidance of Muhammad, founder of Islam in the 7th century, as recorded in the Hadith, a collection of his sayings. Muhammad wore a beard and encouraged his male followers to do the same, so they could be distinguished from non-Muslims. The beard should be a fist long, oiled, and tamed with a beard comb like this elegant ivory example from Somalia, its knob reminiscent of a mosque. Africa

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