Object Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
Circumcision Rattle (Wassambara) |
Medium |
Wood, calabash tree, woven cord, and patina |
Dimensions |
H-18.75 W-19 D-9 inches |
Accession Number |
2019.1 |
Department |
African |
Description |
Bamana Wassambara circumcision rattle. Wood, brown color, composed of an inverted V-shaped form in which one side is the shorter handle and the other the longer post through which the calabash discs are threaded. The inverted V is capped by a sculpted male head which has a prominent nose and ears. The superior surface of the handle beneath the sculpted head has criss-crossed incised designs which create a pattern of adjacent diamonds. There are four sets of calabash discs on the long arm whose outer surfaces are convex. They are arranged in pairs, the largest being at the top and the smallest at the bottom. The largest calabash discs measure 9" in diameter and the smallest 3". This is very old Wassambara dating to the late 19th or early 20th century. Collected by dononr in Mali in 1969. |
Credit line |
Dr. and Mrs. Pascal James Imperato |
Search Terms |
19th Century 20th Century Africa African Bamana Peoples Bougouni Calabash Figure Head Male Mali Patina Wassambara Wooden Woven |