Bari leg ornament

Bari leg ornament
Other views of this artifact:


Accession Number:
1940.7.019
Country:
Sudan
Region:
[Southern Sudan] Bahr el Jebel Terakeka
Cultural Group:
Bari
Date Made:
By 1940
Materials:
Iron Metal
Process:
Forged (Metal) , Hammered , Bent , Twisted
Dimensions:
Ext. diam = 63 by 57.7, int. diam = 55 by 47, W = 5.5, th = 4.5; L short arm = 17, longer arm = 49 mm [RTS 28/2/2005].
Weight:
34.3 g
Other Owners:
Samuel P. Powell
Field Collector:
Samuel P. Powell
PRM Source:
Samuel P. Powell
Acquired:
Loaned July 1940
Collected Date:
By 1940
Description:
Penannular iron leg ornament made from an iron bar that tapers to either end. The central part of the body of this has been twisted, then the inside edge flattened, creating a semicircular section, before being bent into an oval loop with an opening of 5 mm across one side. Beyond this point, the section changes from semicircular to square, with flattened sides. One end has been cut short, and bent back against the body before continuing as a convex arc-shaped projection. The other end tapers to a point, and has been bent fully back to lie parallel to the outer face of the anklet. Most anklets of this type have two arc-shaped ends that mirror one another; it is not clear why this one is different, unless it was unfinished. The anklet is complete and intact; the inner face has traces of use-wear polish from being worn. It is currently a metallic gray colour (Pantone 877C). It has a weight of 34.3 grams, and measures 63 by 57.7 mm across its outer face (not including the arms), and 55 by 47 mm across its inside face, with one arm being 17 mm long and the other, tapering arm having a length of 49 mm. The bracelet is 5.5 mm wide and 4.5 mm thick.

This object was collected by Samuel P. Powell at Terakeka, and loaned to the Pitt Rivers Museum in 1940. It was worn by women as a leg ornament. The shape is unusual; similar objects in the collection have symmetrical ends. It is possible that this represents an unfinished object, with one of the ends not yet bent back and cut off short. For other leg ornaments of similar style, see 1940.7.018, and for 2 unfinished versions, not yet bent into a circle, see 1940.7.020-021.

Rachael Sparks 14/9/2005.

Primary Documentation:
Accession Book Entry [Loans II, p. 308] - ESTATE OF S.P. POWELL, C/O N.H. HASLAM, Esq. Manager, Westminster Bank, Stony Stratford, Bucks. Collected by himself. Data from his labels and notes. From the BARI TRIBE, EQUATORIAL PROVINCE, ANGLO-EGYPTIAN SUDAN. 1940.7.019 - Woman's or girl's iron leg ornament. TEREKKA.

Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the catalogue card [RTS 12/2/2004].

Related Documents File - Appears on undated typed list: "Bari Collection from the Equatorial Province, Sudan" with handwritten insert: "1940.7.018-21 Iron leg ornaments". List is annotated by hand on back: "List of Curios" and "Far from complete" [RTS 16/12/2003].

Pitt Rivers Museum label - [insert] Woman's [end insert] Iron leg ornament, BARI. Terekka S. Sudan. S.P. Powell [brown luggage tag, tied to object; RTS 28/2/2005] 1940.7.018 [EC 'DCF 2004-2006 What's Upstairs?' 21/10/2005]



 
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