Media available: legacy documentation / Collection place: Kenya / Accession number: Acc.4023 - Hearst Museum Portal Search Results

Start Over Media available legacy documentation Collection place Kenya Accession number Acc.4023

Hearst Museum object titled Basket tray, accession number 5-14572, described as Basket, winnowing, "uteo or uungu." Wood, circular, bowl-shaped, woven strips with a coiled rim. An alternating weave of bark intact and bark free strips create a striped design. Made from very light stame of certain trees. Diameter 35 centimeters. Made by men of Waswahili (all areas), Wadigo (Kenya and Tanzania area), Waginyama (*Wagiliama, Kilifi district), and Pokomo (Tana River). Used by women for cleaning grains, particularly rice, during cooking preparations. Cost USD $1.78 [at collection date 1984].

Hearst Museum object titled Belt, accession number 5-14576, described as Money belt, "ukenda." Goat leather stitched with white cotton thread with a metal belt buckle. Length 94 centimeters, width 5.5 centimeters. Made by men of the Wasiyu and is buckled around the Kikoi (male skirt) as decoration, holding knives and storing money by Swahili men.

Hearst Museum object titled Charm, accession number 5-14579, described as Charm; dhow eye, wood, cylindrical with an engraved white star in a white crescent moon, in the center, with a dark blue background. A border of red encircles the design, with blue painted sides. Stuck on the side of dhows (common in Lamu district) as a decoration and protection charm, as it allegedly “sees” rocks in the sea and prevents ship wrecks. They are permanent on dhows and serve as eyes. Made by men (Waswahili) and obtained by trade at Waswahili, Lamu district. Cost in U.S. $2.50.

Hearst Museum object titled Hat, accession number 5-14571, described as Cap, "Kofia," embroidered. Cylindrical, stitched white cotton with gold thread reinforced holes of diamond, circular, curvilinear, and floral designs. Diameter 20 centimeters, height 10 centimeters. Made by Waswahili men and women and is worn anytime by Muslim men. Holes are made by a porcupine quill. The cap is a symbol of male purity and is the same style as caps worn by men in Oman. It is sometimes worn under a turban. Cost USD $21.42 [at collection date 1984].

Hearst Museum object titled Model boat, accession number 5-14584, described as Boat, model, "jjahazi" (Hindu word). A) Hollowed out wood hull with 2 masts and a pole strapped to the deck. 2 paddles strapped to the white, red, and black striped hull. "Kamari" is printed on the sides. Woven straw railing encircles the deck and a cotton canvas partly covers the deck. Length 46 centimeters, height 13 centimeters. B) Rudder: wood, Length 10.5 centimeters. C) Strand: plexiglass, length 26 centimeters, height 21.5 centimeters, width 8 centimeters. Made of wood, palm leaf, and cotton. Context of use: used as a toy by the local boys and sold to tourists. Made by men and boys (Waswahili) and wood carvers. It was bought in a wood carving shop of Said A El Mafazy. It is a model of the type of boat which is used around Lamu to transport mangrove poles. Cost USD $25.00 [at collection date 1984].

Hearst Museum object titled Pot, accession number 5-14581, described as Pot, cooking, "chungu." Bowl-shaped, red clay, reconstructed. Continuous curvilinear ridge encircling the center. Diameter 27 centimeters, height 11 centimeters. Used as a cooking pot when cooking curry or meat. Made by women (wojomvu) and used by women. Obtained by trade from Wajomvu, Jomvu. Cost USD $2.14 [at collection date 1984].

Hearst Museum object titled Shirt, accession number 5-14583, described as Dress or robe, "kanzu ya darazi." White cotton, long sleeved with gold stitched collar and cuffs. Length 1.44 meters, width 57 centimeters, one sleeve length 62 centimeters. Made by Swahili tailors and worn by Swahili men when not doing manual labor. It is a symbol of male purity and is the same style worn in Oman. Cost USD $17.85 [at collection date 1984].

Hearst Museum object titled Skirt, accession number 5-14575, described as Skirt, cotton, "kikoi" (male skirt). Woven with purple, green, yellow, and beige stripes. String fringes border the ends of the cloth. Width 1 meter, length 1.88 meters. Hand woven by men in pit looms in Somalia (Brava) and is wrapped around waist. It is worn by men, alone or under the white "dress" robe (Kanzu) everyday.

Hearst Museum object titled Spoon, accession number 5-14578, described as Spoon, wood, "mwiko." Stained, with a flat teardrop-shaped end. Length 38 centimeters. Made by Waswahili men and is used in cooking for stirring, especially rice. It is also used to serve rice from the cooking pot to a plate. Cost USD $0.35 [at collection date 1984].