This tortoiseshell hair comb belonged to Betty Guard, the wife of whaler Jacky Guard. She was allegedly wearing it when she was attacked by Taranaki Maori after the ship on which she and her husband were returning from Australia was blown ashore.
In 1830 Australian-born Elizabeth (Betty) Guard – shown here in a shadow portrait – married Jacky Guard. He was a convict who, after serving out his sentence, turned seafarer, whaler and trader.
