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Beaded Ceremonial Sword and Sheath

Beaded Ceremonial Sword and Sheath

Unknown

Udamalore swords and beaded sheaths were used by high-ranking military and court officials. This work attempts to copy an udamalore, but several elements appear inauthentic: the strap made of cowries; the two conical forms made with leather and cowrie shells (ìborí), private objects kept only in domestic shrines; a beading style unlike most Yorùbá work; and an uncharacteristic blade shape. This ensemble was likely created for sale to a non-Yorùbá client.
Artist
Unknown (Nigerian, Yorùbá People)
Title
Beaded Ceremonial Sword and Sheath
Date
20th century
Medium
Beads, metal, fabric, coins, brass, cowrie shells, and leather
Dimensions
Knife: 5 1/4 x 20 1/4 in.; Sheath: 10 x 17 1/2 x 1 7/16 in. overall
Credit
Gift of Drs. James and Gladys Witt Strain
Accession No.
1992.84a-b
Classification
Beadwork
Geography
Nigeria

Related

5 May 1992, gifted by Drs. James and Gladys Strain (Riverdale, NY) to the Elvehjem Museum of Art [now called Chazen Museum of Art]

  • Exhibition gallery guide, "Revealing Forms: African Art from the Elvehjem Collection." 2002.
  • Drewal, Henry John. "African Art at the Elvehjem." Bulletin/Biennial Report 2001-2003. Elvehjem Museum of Art (2003): 16-36. pp. 16-36
  • Rarey, Matthew Francis and Henry John Drewal. "Never at Rest: African Art at the University of Wisconsin." African Arts, vol 53, no. 4 (2020): 68-85. fig. 4

  • Revealing Forms: African Art from the Collection: Elvehjem Museum of Art, 4/20/2002–6/16/2002

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