Ornament

AF918

From: Zaire | Kasai District | Belgian Congo

Curatorial Section: African

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Object Number AF918
Current Location Collections Storage
Culture Bapinji
Provenience Zaire | Kasai District | Belgian Congo
Section African
Materials Ivory
Technique Carved
Description

Ivory, whistle shaped, cephalomorphic ornament. Buya. Hole through piece. Face carved below hole. Rounded top, slight triangular body.

Worn by the circumcised. In the shape of a whistle, worn at the neck by the circumcised. The custom is derived from or suggested by that of the Bapende of wearing a whistle slung from the neck as well as a miniature human mask which denotes that the wearer has been cicumcised.

Bapindi of the Kwilu River, Southwestern Belgian Congo.Similiar to AF919, AF921, AF922.

Length 6.2 cm
Width 2.7 cm
Credit Line Purchased from J. F. G. Umlauff, 1912
Other Number 6607-19 | 165 - Other Number

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