The original pendant in the shape of a horse comb was found in a Celtic cremation grave in the Praunheim district of Frankfurt am Main. The find is dated to around 100 BC and therefore belongs to the La Tène culture (phase TD1).
Celtic combs in the shape of stylised horses are known from various La Tène sites. They were probably not used for hair care, but rather for beard grooming or as personal amulets.
Horse combs from the La Tène period were made of bronze and mainly date from the middle to late La Tène phase, between the 3rd and 1st centuries BC. The highly stylised bodies of the horses on these combs seamlessly transition into a short comb with fine teeth.
In addition to the pendant from Frankfurt, there are other typologically comparable finds from southern Germany, Switzerland, eastern France, and the Czech-Austrian region. Most of these were discovered as individual finds in settlements or burial contexts.
Due to their size, these Celtic horse combs may have served as toiletry items, personal amulets, or symbolic objects with a certain social significance.
- Size: 2.8 × 2.5 cm
- Material: bronze
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