Pendant
Arts of Africa
These pendants carved from hippopotamus teeth were strung on cords with beads and amulets. The gesture of the hands on the breasts signifies divination, respect, and the containment of royal secrets.
The pendants are portraits, or at least likenesses, of certain revered ancestors, who are named and honored. Devotees have rubbed the figures with oil in homage to these ancestors, creating a smooth, rich color and lustrous surface.
MEDIUM
Hippopotamus tooth
DATES
19th century
DIMENSIONS
3 1/4 x 1 1/4 x 1 1/2 in. (8.3 x 3.2 x 3.8 cm)
(show scale)
ACCESSION NUMBER
22.1234
CREDIT LINE
Museum Expedition 1922, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Pendant in the form of a woman; through shoulders are holes for hanging. Head is thrust forward; long neck has three rings stacked one on top of the other. Small circles with dots decorate figure.
Condition: Good
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Luba. Pendant, 19th century. Hippopotamus tooth, 3 1/4 x 1 1/4 x 1 1/2 in. (8.3 x 3.2 x 3.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1922, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 22.1234. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 22.1234_bw.jpg)
IMAGE
left, 22.1234_bw.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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