pair of brass castings. the cylindrical castings taper to a point on one end and are flattened into a diamond leaf shape on the other end. 5-15961a has a jagged or hooked point. B [text cut off on card] 5-15961b the most, have areas of patina, almost resembling an inlay. a: 9.4 cm long, b: 10.3 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:
unknown
Materials:
Brass (alloy)
Object type:
ethnography
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:
card says "edan", yet there is no chain, nor any evidence of one, nor are there figures. Oshun is the most important female deity. according to Berta Bascom, May, 1996, these may have been used to kill people. they were possibly inserted into the brain via the nasal passages.
Department:
Africa (except Ancient Egypt)
Dimensions:
b— length 10.3 centimeters and a— length 9.4 centimeters