Search Results

Title

Goldweight in the shape of a double-bladed sword

Artist

Artist Unknown, African, Akan-Speaking Peoples, Ghana or Côte d'Ivoire

Physical Description

Goldweight in the shape of a double-bladed royal sword, with incisions and a small ball along the shaft.

Century

20th century

Object Creation Date

1900-1985

Accession Number

1997/1.505

Medium and Support

brass

relevance

rank 18.15380

Secondary Keywords

africa (continent)

ceremonial weapons

geographic and political locations

goldweights

objects we use

weapons

weapons and ammunition

Title

Goldweight in the shape of a sword

Artist

Artist Unknown, African, Akan-Speaking Peoples, Ghana or Côte d'Ivoire

Physical Description

Goldweight in the shape of a single-bladed, smooth sword, undecorated except for the small ball at the top of the handle.

Century

20th century

Object Creation Date

1900-1985

Accession Number

1997/1.514

Medium and Support

brass

relevance

rank 18.15380

Secondary Keywords

africa (continent)

ceremonial weapons

geographic and political locations

goldweights

objects we use

weapons

weapons and ammunition

Title

Goldweight in the shape of a double-bladed sword

Artist

Artist Unknown, African, Akan-Speaking Peoples, Ghana or Côte d'Ivoire

Physical Description

Goldweight in the shape of an undecorated, double-bladed royal sword.

Century

20th century

Object Creation Date

1900-1985

Accession Number

1997/1.468

Medium and Support

brass

relevance

rank 18.15380

Secondary Keywords

africa (continent)

ceremonial weapons

geographic and political locations

goldweights

objects we use

weapons

weapons and ammunition

Title

Goldweight in the shape of a double-bladed sword

Artist

Artist Unknown, African, Akan-Speaking Peoples, Ghana or Côte d'Ivoire

Physical Description

A goldweight in the shape of a double-blade sword, with open-worked blades, three cones decorating the top of the blades, and an elaborately worked handle with two balls with incised, spiral stripes and small protrusions around.

Century

20th century

Object Creation Date

1900-1985

Accession Number

1997/1.513

Medium and Support

brass

relevance

rank 18.15380

Secondary Keywords

africa (continent)

ceremonial weapons

geographic and political locations

goldweights

objects we use

weapons

weapons and ammunition

Title

Ceremonial Sword

Artist

Artist Unknown, African, Ghana, Ashanti

Century

20th century

Object Creation Date

20th century

Accession Number

1998/1.88

Medium and Support

metal blade with wood pomel overlaid with brass and wrought iron shaft

relevance

rank 16.92683

Secondary Keywords

ceremonial weapons

descriptors

edged weapons

object genres

object genres by material

objects we use

weapons

weapons and ammunition

Title

Goldweight in the shape of a sword with sheath

Artist

Artist Unknown, African, Akan-Speaking Peoples, Ghana or Côte d'Ivoire

Physical Description

Goldweight in the shape of a sword with a smooth handle, covered by a sheath decorated in a pattern of small "bubbles."

Century

20th century

Object Creation Date

1900-1985

Accession Number

1997/1.515

Medium and Support

brass

relevance

rank 16.71788

Secondary Keywords

africa (continent)

cases (containers)

ceremonial weapons

containers

containers by form

geographic and political locations

goldweights

objects we use

weapons

weapons and ammunition

Title

Staff

Artist

Artist Unknown, African, Ndebele peoples South Africa

Physical Description

A wooden staff, covered with beads in solid colors (red, blue, green and orange) outlined in black against a background of white beads, with a sideways M pattern in the middle of the shaft on either side. A stylized head of open beadwork tops the staff, followed by a tight-fitting necklace-like band with a clasp in orange and green and a white band, above solid red and blue rings.

Accession Number

2001/2.46

Medium and Support

wood with beads

relevance

rank 15.69690

Secondary Keywords

ceremonial weapons

descriptors

object genres

object genres by material

objects we use

weapons

weapons and ammunition

Title

Staff

Artist

Artist Unknown, African, Senufo Peoples, Côte d'Ivoire

Physical Description

A stylized animal head, with an elongated open mouth and horizontally positioned, flat ears, sits atop a staff with decorative carvings along the shaft.

Century

20th century

Object Creation Date

circa 1950

Accession Number

2001/2.25

Medium and Support

wood

relevance

rank 15.30605

Secondary Keywords

animals and creatures

biological components

ceremonial weapons

components

components and systems

components by specific context

head

objects

objects we use

the human body

the natural world

upper body

weapons

weapons and ammunition

Title

Staff

Artist

Artist Unknown, African, Kongo peoples Democratic Republic of the Congo

Physical Description

Elaborately carved staff with, from the top: a male figure wearing Western-style clothes, with painted eyes, eyebrows, mouth, moustache, hat and clothes, sitting on a simple stool, resting his hands on his knees; a U-shaped snake on one side and a mortar on the other; a pair of a male and a female figure on either side (the male is standing on one leg, bending the other at the knee to make a triangle); a dark black spherical form; a row of three turtles on one side and two salamanders and a frog on the other; and finally three outstretched snakes (painted yellow, brown and red, respectively), one of them eating a small frog.

Object Creation Date

1900-1970

Accession Number

2001/2.42

Medium and Support

wood, paint

relevance

rank 14.92589

Secondary Keywords

ceremonial weapons

objects

objects we use

sculpture

sculpture by subject type

statues

visual works

visual works by medium or technique

weapons

weapons and ammunition

Title

Staff

Artist

Artist Unknown, African, Luba People Democratic Republic of the Congo

Physical Description

Janus heads with elaborate headgear top a staff with a long, thin shaft and broader hourglass-shaped sections with a stylized human head in the middle of each one. The staff is covered with carved geometrical patterns of triangles, lozenges and lines, and ends in a metal-coiled tip at the bottom; it is heavy and has a shiny black patina.

Object Creation Date

1900-1940

Accession Number

2001/2.75

Medium and Support

wood with metal

relevance

rank 14.92589

Secondary Keywords

biological components

ceremonial weapons

components

components and systems

components by specific context

objects

objects we use

the human body

upper body

weapons

weapons and ammunition

Title

Staff

Artist

Artist Unknown, African, Pende peoples Democratic Republic of the Congo

Physical Description

Smooth staff, topped by a standing, slightly elongated, rectangular male figure with angular curves at the elbows and buttocks and the hands held in front of the stomach, just below the navel (the left arm is damaged). The big feet are carved as one piece, with small incisions for the individual toes.

Century

20th century

Object Creation Date

1900-1970

Accession Number

2001/2.47

Medium and Support

wood

relevance

rank 14.92589

Secondary Keywords

ceremonial weapons

objects

objects we use

sculpture

sculpture by subject type

statues

visual works

visual works by medium or technique

weapons

weapons and ammunition

Title

Staff

Artist

Artist Unknown, African, Kongo peoples Democratic Republic of the Congo

Physical Description

Short stick with a dark shiny patina, topped by a standing, male figure, wearing a European-style suit and brimmed hat, carrying a small box in his hands; followed by a standing female figure, unclothed, carrying a child on her back. Below are smaller figures, on either side respectively: a keeling figure, a turtle, and a bird; a brid, a turtle, a ram's horn and an ornamental motif, possibly a cross.

Object Creation Date

1900-1970

Accession Number

2001/2.64

Medium and Support

wood

relevance

rank 14.92589

Secondary Keywords

ceremonial weapons

objects

objects we use

sculpture

sculpture by subject type

statues

visual works

visual works by medium or technique

weapons

weapons and ammunition

Title

Prestige Axe

Artist

Artist Unknown, African, Congo (Zaire), Bandja

Century

20th century

Object Creation Date

20th century

Accession Number

1998/1.107

Medium and Support

metal blade with wood handle

relevance

rank 14.89981

Secondary Keywords

ceremonial weapons

cutting equipment

cutting tools

descriptors

edged weapons

equipment

equipment by process

object genres

object genres by material

objects we use

tools and equipment

weapons

weapons and ammunition

Title

Staff

Artist

Artist Unknown, African, Luba People Democratic Republic of the Congo

Physical Description

Two carved female figures, holding one arm over each other's back, an the other resting on the stomach decorated with lozenge motifs and scarification patterns; one figure is wearing a rope around the middle. A curving shaft supports the figures, broadening from the metal tip at the bottom into two bulging forms, divided by a dark black line through the middle, and covered in a carved pattern of triangles and lines on both front and back. The staff is heavy, with a nice shiny patina.

Object Creation Date

1900-1940

Accession Number

2001/2.76

Medium and Support

wood with metal

relevance

rank 14.72354

Secondary Keywords

ceremonial weapons

objects

objects we use

people

people (agents)

people and culture

people by gender

weapons

weapons and ammunition

Title

Stone sword (point broken)

Artist

Artist Unknown, Korea

Physical Description

Stone sword with broken point. Short in length

Century

9th century BCE - 8th century BCE

Object Creation Date

9th century BCE - 8th century BCE

Accession Number

1960/2.117

Medium and Support

gray stone

relevance

rank 14.71868

Secondary Keywords

asia (continent)

ceremonial weapons

descriptors

geographic and political locations

inorganic material

materials

materials by composition

objects we use

rock

rock by form

weapons and ammunition

Title

Prestige Axe

Artist

Artist Unknown, African, Benin, Toma

Century

20th century

Object Creation Date

20th century

Accession Number

1998/1.85

Medium and Support

metal blade with wood handle

relevance

rank 14.53290

Secondary Keywords

associated concepts

ceremonial weapons

cutting equipment

cutting tools

descriptors

edged weapons

equipment

equipment by process

object genres

object genres by material

objects we use

people and culture

social science concepts

social status

sociological concepts

tools and equipment

weapons

weapons and ammunition

Title

Staff

Artist

Artist Unknown, Pende peoples Democratic Republic of the Congo

Physical Description

A slightly curved staff, topped by a long, narrow handle, placed atop a carved human head, with simple hairdo and facial feautures. The shaft is covered by a snake coiling upward from the lower end of the staff.

Century

20th century

Object Creation Date

1900-1970

Accession Number

2001/2.67

Medium and Support

wood

relevance

rank 14.28129

Secondary Keywords

ceremonial weapons

objects

objects we use

people

people (agents)

people and culture

people by gender

sculpture

sculpture by subject type

statues

visual works

visual works by medium or technique

weapons

weapons and ammunition

Title

Ritual Staff

Artist

Artist Unknown, African, Mali, Dogon

Century

Probably 20th century

Object Creation Date

probably 20th century

Accession Number

1975/1.69

Medium and Support

carved wood

relevance

rank 14.26811

Secondary Keywords

animals

animals and creatures

ceremonial weapons

man

objects

objects we use

people

people (agents)

people and culture

people and occupations

people by gender

the natural world

visual works

visual works by subject type

weapons

weapons and ammunition

Title

Staff

Artist

Artist Unknown, African, Mali, Bambara

Accession Number

2001/2.7

Medium and Support

wood with metal

relevance

rank 13.97580

Secondary Keywords

african

african styles by region

ceremonial weapons

descriptors

edged weapons

equipment

equipment by context

equipment for personal use

manding

object genres

object genres by material

objects

objects we use

people and culture

styles and periods

styles and periods by region

tools and equipment

walking sticks

weapons

weapons and ammunition

west african styles

western sudanese styles

Title

Staff

Artist

Artist Unknown, African, Yaka Peoples, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Physical Description

A stylized human head with an elaborate coiffure, sitting atop a larger animal head with scarification marks below the eyes, tops a well-carved staff with angular handle and a zig-zag carved pattern below the handle. The eyes of both figures are set in shallow cavities and appear squinted or closed.

Object Creation Date

mid 20th century

Accession Number

2001/2.19

Medium and Support

wood

relevance

rank 13.60882

Secondary Keywords

associated concepts

biological components

ceremonial weapons

components

components and systems

components by specific context

equipment

equipment by context

equipment for personal use

head

objects

objects we use

people and culture

political concepts

social science concepts

the human body

tools and equipment

upper body

walking sticks

weapons

weapons and ammunition

Title

Ogboni staff

Artist

Artist Unknown, African, Yoruba Peoples Nigeria

Physical Description

Brass female figure, kneeling with buttocks on the heels, atop an iron staff. The protruding eyes, nose, and mouth convey a serene, dignified and somewhat withdrawn look. The figure has a beard around the face; she wears ornamentation in small holes atop the ears, cone-shaped headgear, and an elaborate necklace; there is a small spiral motif on the forehead, and two larger spiral motifs on the sides of the body. The hands are held in closed fists in front of the body, the left hand on top of the right.

Object Creation Date

1900-1970

Accession Number

2001/2.39

Medium and Support

brass, iron

relevance

rank 13.31233

Secondary Keywords

associated concepts

ceremonial weapons

descriptors

inorganic material

iron and iron alloy

materials

materials by composition

metal

metal and metal products

metal by composition or origin

objects we use

people and culture

political concepts

sculpture

sculpture by subject type

social science concepts

statues

visual works

visual works by medium or technique

weapons

weapons and ammunition

Title

Prestige Axe

Artist

Artist Unknown, African, Mali, Bambara

Century

20th century

Object Creation Date

20th century

Accession Number

1998/1.100

Medium and Support

metal blade with wood handle with metal studs

relevance

rank 12.58113

Secondary Keywords

african

african styles by region

ceremonial weapons

cutting equipment

cutting tools

descriptors

equipment

equipment by process

manding

object genres

object genres by material

objects we use

people and culture

styles and periods

styles and periods by region

tools and equipment

weapons

weapons and ammunition

west african styles

western sudanese styles

Title

Scarification knife

Artist

Artist Unknown, African, Congo (Zaire), Kuba

Century

20th century

Object Creation Date

circa 1935

Accession Number

1985/2.69

Medium and Support

steel and copper wire

relevance

rank 12.56137

Secondary Keywords

african

african styles by region

central and equatorial african styles

central democratic republic of congo styles

ceremonial weapons

cutting equipment

cutting tools

edged weapons

equipment

equipment by process

objects

objects we use

people and culture

styles and periods

styles and periods by region

tools and equipment

weapons

weapons and ammunition

western democratic republic of congo styles

Title

Scarification knife

Artist

Artist Unknown, African, Congo (Zaire), Kuba

Century

20th century

Object Creation Date

circa 1935

Accession Number

1985/2.68

Medium and Support

iron and copper wire

relevance

rank 12.56137

Secondary Keywords

african

african styles by region

central and equatorial african styles

central democratic republic of congo styles

ceremonial weapons

cutting equipment

cutting tools

edged weapons

equipment

equipment by process

objects

objects we use

people and culture

styles and periods

styles and periods by region

tools and equipment

weapons

weapons and ammunition

western democratic republic of congo styles

Title

Sword (eben)

Artist

Artist Unknown, African, Nigeria, Benin

Physical Description

Cast ceremonial sword. The "fan" shape is indicative of the royal eben type. The general shape may be derived from northern, Sahelian influences. The looped handle is also typical of the eben type.

Century

20th century

Object Creation Date

20th century

Accession Number

1998/1.86

Medium and Support

metal blade with ivory, leather and cloth covered handle

relevance

rank 12.20575

Secondary Keywords

african

ancient african styles and periods

ancient west african styles and periods

aristocracy

ceremonial weapons

descriptors

groups of people

nigerian

nobility

object genres

object genres by material

objects we use

people

people (agents)

people and culture

social classes

social classes by specific type

social groups

styles and periods

styles and periods by region

upper class

weapons

weapons and ammunition

Title

Esu-Elegbara Dance Staff (ogo Esu-Elegbara)

Artist

Artist Unknown, African, Yoruba Peoples Nigeria

Physical Description

At the top of the staff, a male and female supplicant peer from a cascade of cowries, brass beads, iron fragments, and seeds. Some cowries are stained with indigo dye. The lower bodies of the figures are concealed by the shell strands above. Their elongated hairstyles extend the overall verticality of the piece. The figure’s faces appear to be identical.

Century

19th-20th century

Object Creation Date

1900-1975

Accession Number

2003/2.26

Medium and Support

wood, leather, cowrie shells, brass, iron, seeds

relevance

rank 10.71570

Secondary Keywords

arts

arts and related disciplines

ceremonial weapons

chordophones

combination inorganic/organic animal material

combination inorganic/organic material

descriptors

disciplines

humanities

indirectly struck idiophones

international post-1945 styles and movements

materials

materials by composition

objects we use

people

people (agents)

people and culture

people by state or condition

performing arts

post-1945 fine arts styles and movements

shell (animal material)

shell and shell material

sound devices

sound devices by acoustical characteristics

struck idiophones

styles and periods

styles and periods by region

weapons

weapons and ammunition