Knife

Museum number:
5-15952
Permalink:
ark:/21549/hm21050015952
Alternate number:
B-2973 (previous number (Bascom’s number))
Accession number:
Acc.4677
Description:
carved ivory knife. tip of blade is much darker likely stained by cola. handle has incised pattern on both sides consisting of vertical lines flanking an X. blade, 5.5 cm x 1.5 cm, handle, 4 cm x 1.5 cm.
Donor:
Berta Bascom
Collection place:
Nigeria
Verbatim coll. place:
Africa; Nigeria; Yoruba
Culture or time period:
Yoruba
Collector:
Berta Bascom and William Russell Bascom
Collection date:
1960
Materials:
Ivory (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
Accession date:
December 15, 1995
Context of use:
used for cutting cola for Shango and other orishas in Alafin's palace during days when so many sacrifices were made that fingers got tired.
Department:
Africa (except Ancient Egypt)
Dimensions:
handle— length 4 centimeters, blade— width 1.5 centimeters, blade— length 5.5 centimeters, and handle— width 1.5 centimeters
Comment:
PAHMA Storage Loc: W-2-Bascom-13
Images:
Hearst Museum object 1 of 2 titled Knife, accession number 5-15952, described as carved ivory knife. tip of blade is much darker likely stained by cola. handle has incised pattern on both sides consisting of vertical lines flanking an X. blade, 5.5 cm x 1.5 cm, handle, 4 cm x 1.5 cm.Hearst Museum object 2 of 2 titled Knife, accession number 5-15952, described as carved ivory knife. tip of blade is much darker likely stained by cola. handle has incised pattern on both sides consisting of vertical lines flanking an X. blade, 5.5 cm x 1.5 cm, handle, 4 cm x 1.5 cm.
Legacy documentation:
Documentation associated with Hearst Museum object titled Knife, accession number 5-15952, described as carved ivory knife. tip of blade is much darker likely stained by cola. handle has incised pattern on both sides consisting of vertical lines flanking an X. blade, 5.5 cm x 1.5 cm, handle, 4 cm x 1.5 cm.

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