Bone Comb

Bone combing is the art of making combs from animal horns. The bone comb, recognized as one of Sivas’s important traditional crafts and preserved as a cultural value from antiquity to the present, is an essential part of our cultural heritage. Since it is made from horn, the bone comb has a natural structure and possesses properties compatible with the human body.

The bone comb from Sivas has received a geographical indication certification from the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TÜRKPATENT). This certification confirms that the Sivas bone comb is an officially recognized and protected cultural value.

^{Kemik Tarak} (T.C. Sivas Valiliği)

The comb is an instrument used since the earliest periods of human history. According to legend, the first comb was crafted by one of the consorts of the Yellow Emperor (2717–2599 BCE) in the shape of a fish spine. The comb has a history spanning 6,000 years.

Archaeological findings from antiquity provide concrete evidence of comb use in ancient Egypt, Rome, and India. In Indo-European languages, the word “comb” is derived from the terms GOMBHOS or GOMFOS, meaning “tooth.” In Turkish, the root of the word “tarım” (agriculture) evolved into “taramak” (to comb).

Early humans, who had little contact with water, used tree branches to clean their hair and later adopted simple bone combs due to their water-resistant properties. In prehistoric times, horn and bone were the primary materials for making jewelry and ornaments. These materials were preferred because they were easily obtainable and easily workable in nature.

During the Ottoman Empire, the comb was an indispensable item and one of the most prominent personal grooming tools. Combs for hair were also made from bone. In the first half of the 18th century, they were as common as they are today. Combs were used not only for hair but also for beards and mustaches.

Although the exact origin of bone comb production in Sivas is unknown, it has a history spanning centuries. Until industrial production of mass-produced plastic combs began 50 years ago, comb making was a traditional craft practiced locally.

^{Kemik Tarak} (T.C. Sivas Valiliği)

Horn from large and small livestock is used as the raw material for bone comb production. Typically, horn from cattle, oxen, buffalo, and rams is preferred. Horn serves as the primary material for bone combs and is easily recyclable.

Raw material is obtained by collecting horns after small livestock are slaughtered. The collected horns are left to dry for approximately four years. Once dried, they are cut into shapes suitable for comb production.

In the past, buffalo horn was sourced locally, but as demand increased, it began to be imported from distant regions. Today, difficulties in sourcing raw materials are among the main reasons the craft faces the threat of extinction.

^{Kemik Tarak} (Anadolu Ajansı)

The production of bone combs is a long and labor-intensive process. The stages are as follows:

1. Horns are collected
2. Dried for approximately four years
3. Cut into comb shapes after drying
4. Rough shaping is performed
5. Heated in fire for initial straightening
6. Pressed
7. Re-shaped
8. Second straightening
9. Thermal treatment is applied
10. Horn is split open (converted into flat plates) – the most critical stage
11. Processed through various rasps
12. Sanded
13. Shaped according to the final comb design
14. Teeth are cut
15. Burrs are removed
16. Carving (scraping) is performed
17. Teeth tips are sharpened
18. Polished with finer sandpaper
19. Polished
20. Prepared for customer use

While the shape is imposed on the horn, the pattern emerges naturally. Each product is unique; it is impossible to predict exactly what pattern will emerge until the final stage. Artisans express this as follows: “Nature presents us with what it offers, and we use it. Even we cannot precisely determine what pattern will emerge until the product is fully finished. When something unexpected appears, it brings a special joy and satisfaction.”

^{Kemik Tarak} (Anadolu Ajansı)

Bone comb varieties include:

Women’s Combs:

• Double-Sided Women’s Comb
• Straight Women’s Comb
• Carved Women’s Comb
• Long-Handled Women’s Comb
• Horn Comb

Men’s Combs:

• Thick-and-Thin Toothed Men’s Comb
• Straight Men’s Comb
• Beard Comb
• Mustache Comb
• Pocket Comb

Combs Used for Decorative Purposes:

• Ram Horn Display Comb

Other items made from horn besides bone combs:

• Bone button
• Envelope opener
• Spoon
• Teacup saucer
• Necklace pendant
• Coaster

^{Kemik Tarak} (T.C. Sivas Valiliği)

Bone combs possess beneficial properties for human health:

• Prevents dandruff through keratin present in horn
• Prevents static electricity in hair
• Reduces stress by preventing negative electrical charge buildup
• Maintains cellular vitality
• Inhibits bacterial growth
• Preserves hair health
• Reduces hair breakage

It is widely known and affirmed by users and artisans that bone combs do not electrify or damage hair and effectively remove dandruff. In today’s era, where natural products are recommended, the use of combs made from bone or wood is preferred over plastic ones.

The Sivas Bone Comb has received a geographical indication certification from the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TÜRKPATENT). The Sivas Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism submitted the application on 19 January 2022, bringing the total number of certified products from Sivas to 21, including the bone comb.

The importance of geographical indication certification is explained as follows:

• Consumers gain access to high-quality, guaranteed products by recognizing their origin, distinctive characteristics, and geographical connection
• It plays a significant role in branding the city
• It enhances tourism potential and attracts visitors
• It supports local production and rural development
• It preserves traditional knowledge and cultural values
• It combats product counterfeiting

^{Kemik Tarak} (Anadolu Ajansı)

In Sivas, bone combing is a craft on the verge of disappearing. Today, only a limited number of artisans continue this art. While combs were once used in a wide variety of ways, traditional handcrafted bone comb production has declined due to the increasing production of combs made from other materials and through industrial methods. This craft is gradually joining the ranks of vanishing traditional arts.

Reasons for the threat of extinction of this profession:

• Artisans are of advanced age
• Difficulty in sourcing raw materials
• Failure to train apprentices