These bamboo combs are fascinating and functional artifacts belonging to the male hill tribes of Arakan. These combs are the traditional tools of grooming processed from heavily split bamboos brought along from the hilly areas of the region. Consisting of thin bamboo segments evenly split in length, which form teeth, these combs are generally the property of men, although they allow flexibility and strength for everyday use.What is special about them is that one half of the comb is lacquered while the other half gets lacquered naturally with lacquer. The handle is lacquered, which imparts to it a smooth polished feel-that makes it very easy to use, but it also looks very nice indeed. Lacquer not only acts as ornamentation for the comb, but it also guards all the bamboo parts against moisture and insects thus prolonging the life of the comb itself.

Combs are most often not ceremonial objects; instead, they usually demonstrate a person's identity along with manifestations of culture. Indeed, most of the time, they are personalized such that they may even be made to shape the grip and taste of the user. Lacquered surfaces may also bear some of those little symbols denoting the artistry of a tribe and hence the local traditions.The comb is actually masculine so that it is in harmony with all the daily chores concerning personal care. They can be kept in any headdress or pull in from the waist. Also, there is a very old and vast tradition regarding the way of self-decoration and culture concerning personal grooming among the hill tribes.