This ivory comb, carved in relief, depicts the Hindu god, Vishnu reclining on the coils of Anantashesha, the serpent of eternity. Three smaller figures, yet to be identified, are portrayed at the centre. Sinhalese craftsmen and artisans were well known for their extremely fine ivory carving. They produced works depicting Hindu and Buddhist deities and later Christian imagery after the arrival of the Portuguese in 1505. Sri Lanka traded extensively with Portugal, and after the mid 1600s, with the Dutch. This comb could have been produced for the domestic market or for export purposes.
