There's an interesting site for those interested in Scythians, showing a reconstruction of various grave goods supposedly from about 500BC
http://en.tengrinews.kz/science/Reconstruction-shows-how-ancient-Scythian-Princess-255482/
But it includes a comb and reconstruction of a comb showing a 'battle scene'
The infantryman looks more like a conventional wargames Scythian than do the crew
Jim
Does that look like a Chinese chariot?
Roy
I'll leave that to the experts, but certainly it didn't look like a more normal Mesopotamian one.
Jim
In terms of iconography, wouldn't it be odd for a Scythian comb to show a Scythian being ridden down by a foreign chariot?
Intriguing observation: my first thought upon seeing the chariot was: "Achaemenid."
By way of comparison, look at this one from the Oxus Treasure (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Oxus_chariot_model.jpg) for shape, configuration, crew and general design.
Conjecture time: might the comb have been made by or gifted to a Sacae tribe allied with the Persians, or taken from a Persian?
The style of comb is very similar to the Persian ones in the Louvre, and the pose of the chariot driver is almost identical to a relief in the BM. Could the reconstruction have squared off the heads too much, giving a pill box hat? The original looks like it could have been a fillet with hair above it, though I could be convinced otherwise.
I'd agree - Achaemenid. Possible gift - perhaps the chap has a different hat to the recipients so no offence taken - or loot.
Came across this
http://e-history.kz/en/publications/view/735
"Researchers of Taksay comb believe that in the decoration of the comb depicted the epic battle between the Persians and the Sarmatians."
Jim
As Patrick and Peter have both said, the chariot looks very much like an Achaemenid style. See for instance http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/Images2/Achaemenid/Painting/Reconstructed_Achaemenid_painting_beam3WM.png which is a reconstruction of one of the scenes on the Tatarli wooden beams. (You can browse the index at http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/Images2/Achaemenid/Painting/ for more scenes.) Probably a Persian import, then.
I'd also go with it being a Persian comb...
Scythian art rather postdates Scythian chariot use
Possibly representing a meeting of kings...