Anuak ring-pad

Anuak ring-pad
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Accession Number:
1936.10.49
Country:
Sudan
Region:
[Southern Sudan]
Cultural Group:
Anywaa [Anuak]
Date Made:
By 1936
Materials:
Grass Fibre Plant , Bast Fibre Bark Plant
Process:
Bound , Plaited , Twisted
Dimensions:
Outer L = 185, W = 180 mm, inner L = 60, W = 52 mm, Th = 55.3 mm, W strips = 3 to 7 mm, L loop = 44 mm, diam cord = 3.6 mm [RTS 11/8/2004].
Weight:
237.9 g
Local Name:
tkac
Other Owners:
Presumably collected by Evans-Pritchard during his period of fieldwork amongst the Anuak between early March and May 1935 [RTS 18/6/2004].
Field Collector:
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
PRM Source:
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
Acquired:
Donated 1936
Collected Date:
March - May 1935
Description:
Circular ring-pad made from a core of bundled grass, bent into a loop and strengthened with an outer rib made of plaited plant fibre strips that runs around the centre of the outside edge with its ends overlapping slightly. These elements were then secured by winding narrow strips of yellow (Pantone 7508C) to reddish brown bast (Pantone 478C) around the body at right angles, with each binding strip coming up the outside face, wrapping once around the rib, then continuing around the inside face of the ring. One end of the rib is tucked under the other and woven into the surface binding; the other end continues as a cord with herringbone plaited body. This extends beyond the edge of the ring-pad and has been bent into a suspension loop that turns over and passes under the rib before doubling back on itself to make a second parallel loop that is then knotted around the base of the first loop. The last section of this second loop is twisted, rather than plaited. The ring-pad is complete and intact; the surface has a dark stain on one side, and the other side appears to be partially accreted with a reddish brown soil or ochre. It has a weight of 237.9 grams, has outer measurements of 180 by 185 mm and a thickness of 55.3 mm, while the central hole is 60 by 52 mm. The bast strips are around 3 to 7 mm wide, and the cord loop is 44 mm long and has a diameter of 3.6 mm.

Collected by E.E. Evans-Pritchard during his fieldwork amongst the Anuak, which took place between early March and May 1935 (E.E. Evans-Pritchard, 1940, The Political System of the Anuak of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, p. 3).

This type of ring was used by women for carrying water pots and other objects on the head; it is called
tkac by the Anuak. This particular example has been made in a similar fashion to 1979.20.49, a Dinka Tuich ring-pad from Dhangrial.

Rachael Sparks 25/9/2005.

Primary Documentation:
Accession Book Entry [p. 410] - 1936 [insert] 10 [end insert] E. EVANS-PRITCHARD, M.A., Exeter College, Oxford. - Specimens collected by himself in the EASTERN SUDAN, while travelling with a Grant from the Rockefeller Leverhulme Trustees, viz: [p. 414] [insert] 49 [end insert] - Tkac , ring-pad of grass and bast, for carrying pots etc on head, ANUAK.
Additional Accession Book Entry [p. 413] - 1936.10.49, 50 numbers given - LW. [1936.10].49 Diam = [...] [1936.10].50 Diam = [...] [Note that the measurements were never entered].

Card Catalogue Entry - [insert, red biro] A9-F4-31 [end insert]. EASTERN SUDAN, ANUAK. Tkae , ring-pad of grass and bast, for carrying pots, etc. on head. Coll. by donor. d.d. E.E. Evans-Pritchard, 1936 [RTS 30/1/2004].

Old Pitt Rivers Museum label - Thac , ring-pad of grass & plaited bast, for carrying water-pots etc. on the head. ANUAK, E. SUDAN. d.d. E. Evans-Pritchard, 1936 [rectangular metal-edged tag, tied to object; RTS 11/8/2004].



 
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