Spinning Top

37-22-260A

From: Sierra Leone | Sherbro Island

Curatorial Section: African

Object Number 37-22-260A
Current Location Collections Storage
Culture Sherbro
Provenience Sierra Leone | Sherbro Island
Section African
Materials Nuts | Wood
Description

Ibel= palm nuts, yee= spinning. The body of the top is a palm kernel, to which is added a wooden handle, and a seed for a peg, stuck into holes by means of breadfruit gum. The top is set spinning by twirling the handle between the hands, then loosing it. Bets are made as to which top, spinning beside the other, will remain spinning after knocking the other over. The tops are [or were] also a means of divining.

Length 11 cm
Credit Line Expedition to Sierra Leone, West Africa; Henry Usher Hall, 1937
Other Number 34 - Collector Number

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