Divination cup

Museum number:
5-15416
Permalink:
ark:/21549/hm21050015416
Alternate number:
B-2029 (previous number (Bascom’s number))
Accession number:
Acc.4471
Description:
divination cup (bowl); standing cock on blue self base; cup on cock's back; 4 staples and a missing wedge in base; dried fish on either side of cock; incised geometric decoration on rip of cup; dark-stained carved wood; blue and white paint; H. 14 cm.
Donor:
Berta Bascom
Collection place:
Meko, Nigeria
Verbatim coll. place:
Nigeria, Meko, Yoruba; Gift of a lady in Ketu
Culture or time period:
Yoruba
Collector:
Berta Bascom and William Russell Bascom
Collection date:
1941
Materials:
Paint (coating) and Wood (plant material)
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Carvings (visual works)
Function:
5.1 Religion and Divination: Objects and garb associated with practices reflecting submission, devotion, obedience, and service to supernatural agencies
Context of use:
to hold the sacred palm nuts 'Ikin' of Ifa, during divination.
Department:
Africa (except Ancient Egypt)
Dimensions:
height 14 centimeters
Comment:
Slide.Halsted photo #98. PAHMA Storage Loc: W-18-10
Images:
Hearst Museum object 1 of 5 titled Divination cup, accession number 5-15416, described as divination cup (bowl); standing cock on blue self base; cup on cock's back; 4 staples and a missing wedge in base; dried fish on either side of cock; incised geometric decoration on rip of cup; dark-stained carved wood; blue and white paint; H. 14 cm.Hearst Museum object 2 of 5 titled Divination cup, accession number 5-15416, described as divination cup (bowl); standing cock on blue self base; cup on cock's back; 4 staples and a missing wedge in base; dried fish on either side of cock; incised geometric decoration on rip of cup; dark-stained carved wood; blue and white paint; H. 14 cm.Hearst Museum object 3 of 5 titled Divination cup, accession number 5-15416, described as divination cup (bowl); standing cock on blue self base; cup on cock's back; 4 staples and a missing wedge in base; dried fish on either side of cock; incised geometric decoration on rip of cup; dark-stained carved wood; blue and white paint; H. 14 cm.Hearst Museum object 4 of 5 titled Divination cup, accession number 5-15416, described as divination cup (bowl); standing cock on blue self base; cup on cock's back; 4 staples and a missing wedge in base; dried fish on either side of cock; incised geometric decoration on rip of cup; dark-stained carved wood; blue and white paint; H. 14 cm.Hearst Museum object 5 of 5 titled Divination cup, accession number 5-15416, described as divination cup (bowl); standing cock on blue self base; cup on cock's back; 4 staples and a missing wedge in base; dried fish on either side of cock; incised geometric decoration on rip of cup; dark-stained carved wood; blue and white paint; H. 14 cm.
Legacy documentation:
Documentation associated with Hearst Museum object titled Divination cup, accession number 5-15416, described as divination cup (bowl); standing cock on blue self base; cup on cock's back; 4 staples and a missing wedge in base; dried fish on either side of cock; incised geometric decoration on rip of cup; dark-stained carved wood; blue and white paint; H. 14 cm.

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