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Awl or Hair Ornament

Arts of Africa

Ivory’s value results from its scarcity, as well as its association with the elephant, a symbol of power and strength. Ivory bracelets, decorated with engraved designs, were made by the Fur of the Darfur region of Sudan and traded as far as Eritrea and the Republic of the Congo. Hairpins from the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo are worn by both men and women to hold hats and ornate hairstyles in place. These hairpins are particularly ostentatious, since each is made from a large piece of ivory, most of which is carved away.
CULTURES Mangbetu or Zande
MEDIUM Ivory, copper
DATES late 19th or early 20th century
DIMENSIONS 9 1/16in. (23cm)  (show scale)
COLLECTIONS Arts of Africa
ACCESSION NUMBER 56.6.53
CREDIT LINE Gift of Arturo and Paul Peralta-Ramos
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Ivory awl or hair ornament. Hair pin, ivory, copper end incised with two lizard-like motifs, cross-hatching and rings, rim slightly bent.
MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
CAPTION Mangbetu. Awl or Hair Ornament, late 19th or early 20th century. Ivory, copper, 9 1/16in. (23cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Arturo and Paul Peralta-Ramos, 56.6.53. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 56.6.53_PS6.jpg)
IMAGE overall, 56.6.53_PS6.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2011
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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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Mangbetu. <em>Awl or Hair Ornament</em>, late 19th or early 20th century. Ivory,  copper, 9 1/16in. (23cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Arturo and Paul Peralta-Ramos, 56.6.53. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 56.6.53_PS6.jpg)