This “scratching tool” is a recreation of an object from Berlin’s Museum der Dinge. It resembles a hairbrush, but has nails instead of bristles and a zigzag metal strip on the back for different kinds of itches. Among all the quirky things in the museum’s collection, this handmade surrealist object was extraordinarily weird. I don’t understand what it is, I’m just happy it exists.
As an avid collector myself, I sometimes build my own versions of items I can’t get for real. My rendition of this object doesn’t aspire to be an exact copy, but it still conveys the essence & spirit of the original. The contradiction that this is a completely impractical object, yet it looks well-used, is fascinating.
21 × 10.5 × 7.5 cm | 8.25 × 4 × 3 in
Materials: Cedar shingle from my parent’s house, nails, aluminum, string, paper.