Search Results

Title

Goldweight

Artist

Artist Unknown, African, Ghana, Akan

Physical Description

Goldweights are small objects cast from brass used to weigh out quantities of gold and gold dust. They are cast using a lost-wax casting technique, wherein wax is sculpted into the desired shape and a mold is pressed around the wax model. Then, the mold is heated and the wax drained out, leaving a void in the shape of the original wax model. Liquid brass is poured into the mold and allowed to set before the caster cracks the mold open and retrieves the finished goldweight.

Century

20th century

Object Creation Date

20th century

Accession Number

1997/1.385

Medium and Support

brass

relevance

rank 7.77151

Secondary Keywords

associated concepts

christianity

descriptors

goldweights

metalwork

object genres

object genres by material

people and culture

protestantism

religions

religions and religious concepts

styles and periods

styles and periods by region

Title

Healing Scroll

Artist

Artist Unknown, African, Ethopian Orthodox Ethiopia

Physical Description

Long narrow strip of parchment with writing in red and black pigment; image at top shows a face with large eyes in a square with eight radiating triangles (Solomon's Seal); image at bottom shows a winged figure holding a sword (archangel). Rows of eyes border the images.

Century

19th century

Object Creation Date

19th century

Accession Number

1981/2.159

Medium and Support

parchment, pigment on leather scroll

relevance

rank 7.18097

Secondary Keywords

associated concepts

christianity

components

components and systems

components by specific context

information artifacts

information artifacts by physical form

information form components

information forms

layout features

objects we use

people and culture

religions

religions and religious concepts

scrolls (information artifacts)

Title

Polycandelon for six oil lamps

Artist

Artist Unknown, Coptic, Egypt

Physical Description

This bronze light fixture consists of a central circular celestial motif from which extend twelve arms in a radial pattern. Six of these arms, embellished with maltese crosses, end in omega-shaped terminals. These decorated arms alternate with six unadorned arms that terminate in rings designed to hold glass oil lamps. The entire disk is suspended from three bronze chains joined to a large hook.

Century

6th century

Object Creation Date

500-599

Accession Number

1965/2.54

Medium and Support

bronze

relevance

rank 6.49345

Secondary Keywords

associated concepts

christianity

copper alloy

copper and copper alloy

crosses (motifs)

descriptors

design elements

furnishings

furnishings by form or function

geographic and political locations

inorganic material

lighting devices

lighting devices by form

materials

materials by composition

metal

metal and metal products

metal by composition or origin

middle east (general region)

motifs

nonferrous metal

objects we use

people and culture

religions

religions and religious concepts

Title

Censer with Maltese crosses, birds, and columns

Artist

Artist Unknown, Coptic, Egypt

Physical Description

The body of this cylindrical censer is decorated with eight columns spaced at regular intervals. The lid of the censer consists of an openwork dome divided into sections by eight vertical ribs that converge at its apex. An arched horizontal band intersects the midpoint of the ribs, and these eight junctures are marked with a projecting bird that holds a small bronze ball dangling from its beak. Two segments of the dome are decorated with Maltese crosses while another two feature curved plant forms. The apex is surmounted by a finial comprised of a globe topped by a Maltese cross on which a bird holding a piece of fruit perches.

Century

6th-7th century

Object Creation Date

500-699

Accession Number

1960/2.4

Medium and Support

bronze

relevance

rank 6.01400

Secondary Keywords

animals and creatures

architectural elements

associated concepts

ceremonial containers

christianity

columns and column components

components

components and systems

components by specific context

containers

containers by function or context

copper alloy

copper and copper alloy

crosses (motifs)

descriptors

design elements

inorganic material

materials

materials by composition

metal

metal and metal products

metal by composition or origin

motifs

nonferrous metal

objects we use

people and culture

religions

religions and religious concepts

structural elements

structural elements and structural element components

supporting and resisting elements

Title

Quilt with Central Diamond Pattern

Artist

Anonymous Amish, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Physical Description

A black diamond in the center is positioned within a lavender square surrounded by a pink frame. The entire is surrounded by thick frame of black.

Century

early 20th century

Object Creation Date

circa 1920

Accession Number

2000/2.321

Medium and Support

cotton and wool

relevance

rank 4.85318

Secondary Keywords

visual arts

abstraction

animal material

artistic concepts

associated concepts

bed coverings

bedcovers

christianity

components

components and systems

components by specific context

concepts in the arts

coverings and hangings

coverings and hangings by location or context

coverings and hangings by specific type

coverings and hangings components

coverings and hangings for furniture

coverings and hangings for sleeping and reclining furnitur

descriptors

design elements

fiber and fiber products

fiber products

forms of expression

furnishings

furnishings by form or function

furnishings components

geometric motifs

hair

hair and hair components

hair by form

keratinous material

materials

materials by form

materials by origin

materials by physical form

motifs

object genres

object genres by material

objects we use

patterns (design elements)

patterns by specific type

people and culture

protestantism

quilt components

religions

religions and religious concepts

textile materials

textile materials by composition or origin

visual and tactile