唐 螺鈿梳背|Comb top

Art Historical Context

This exquisite comb top, crafted during China's Tang dynasty (618–907), exemplifies the era's opulent craftsmanship in personal adornments. Made of shimmering mother-of-pear (known as *luodian* in Chinese), it measures just 4 inches long, designed as the decorative back of a woman's hair comb. The iridescent shell inlays, meticulously cut and fitted into a lacquer base create intricate patterns—likely featuring birds, as suggested by its motifs—that catch the light with mesmerizing play. The Tang period was a cosmopolitan golden age, with Silk Road exchanges bringing exotic materials and tech...