Flywhisk (mpiya, nsea, nfunka or nyese) / Artist Unknown, African, Dondo Peoples Congo Republic
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About this Item
Record Details
- Accession Number
- 2005/1.176
- Title
- Flywhisk (mpiya, nsea, nfunka or nyese)
- Artist Nationality
- Congolese
- Medium and Support
- wood, lead, cotton fiber, buffalo hair
- Object Creation Date
- circa 1800
- Object Creation Place
- Africa (continent)
- Congo Republic (nation)
- Creation Place 1
- Africa (continent)
- Creation Place 2
- Congo Republic (nation)
- Credit Line
- Gift of Candis and Helmut Stern
- Dimensions
- 46.6 cm x 6.2 cm x 8.3 cm (18 3/8 in. x 2 7/16 in. x 3 1/4 in.)
- Century
- late 18th - early 19th century
- Primary Object Classification
- Personal Accessory
- Physical Description
- Wood-carved flywhisk is shape of a woman. Her torso doubles as the whisk handle and is scarified with leaden inlay, which has been worn smooth due to extended use. A red cotton wrap marks the transition zone between the female’s torso and the buffalo hair whisk below. The whisk visually acts as a grass skirt completing the above figure’s body and dress.
- Subject Matter
- Whisks are the prerogative of rulers, divination experts or judges. This one seems to be of special importance given its intricate surface design. The figure raises her arm to her head making a gesture that indicates that she is also in the process of whisking up and down.
- Secondary Keywords
- associated concepts
- disciplines
- equipment
- equipment by context
- equipment for personal use
- objects we use
- occult sciences
- people and culture
- political concepts
- social science concepts
- social status
- sociological concepts
- tools and equipment
- visual works
- visual works by subject type
- Rights
- If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/about/services/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Technical Details
- Collection
- University of Michigan Museum of Art
- Image Size
- 1422 x 2790
- File Size
- 528 KB
- Record
- 2005/1.176
- Link to this Item
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-2005-sl-1.176/2005_1_176.jpg
Rights and Permissions
Related Links
Portfolios
IIIF
- Manifest
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:2005-SL-1.176:2005_1_176.JPG
Cite this Item
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- Full citation
-
"Flywhisk (mpiya, nsea, nfunka or nyese); Artist Unknown, African, Dondo Peoples Congo Republic." In the digital collection University of Michigan Museum of Art. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-2005-sl-1.176/2005_1_176.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 24, 2024.
