Bracelet associated with the worship of Ogun (the god of blacksmiths). Wrought iron; twisted iron rod with overlapping opening; 18 miniature tools (hoe, axe, knife, etc) looped around ring; diameter ca. 7.5 cm; maximum length of tools 9.0 cm. Miniature tools include: spear point(?), chisel(?), door lock, auger(?), arrowhead(?), ring, machete, calabash scraper, gong, stirrup or bow, knife(?), bell (aja), axe, hoe, knife, drumstick, half a tongs(?), hammer(?).
Donor:
Berta Bascom and William Russell Bascom
Collection place:
Nigeria
Verbatim coll. place:
West Africa; Nigeria; Yoruba
Culture or time period:
Yoruba
Collector:
Berta Bascom and William Russell Bascom
Collection date:
unknown
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Bracelets (jewelry), Drumsticks (percussion beaters), and Miniature (size attribute)
Function:
5.2 Magic: Objects Associated with Practices reflecting confidence in the ability to manipulate supernatural agencies
Accession date:
December 15, 1993
Context of use:
Used in Ogun cult; Ogun is the god of blacksmiths, and all those who use metal instruments, per Fagg, et al.
Department:
Africa (except Ancient Egypt)
Dimensions:
length 9 centimeters and diameter 7.5 centimeters
Comment:
Fide J. Lorand Matory (12/14/2017): A bracelet associated with the worship of Ogun. It appears very Latin American in style.