Lotuko shirt
Other views of this artifact:
Accession Number:
1940.7.091 .1 .2
Country:
Sudan
Region:
[Southern Sudan] [Al Istiwa'iyah] [Equatoria] Eastern Equatoria Torit ?Xapari
Cultural Group:
Lotuko [Otuho]
Date Made:
By 1940
Materials:
Goat Skin Animal , Animal Hide Skin , Cotton Yarn Plant
Process:
Perforated , Repaired (local) , Stained , Decorated ?
Dimensions:
[.1] L = 1005, W across centre = 444 mm; [.2] L = 670, W across upper corners = 660, W across centre = 770 mm [RTS 8/3/2005].
Weight:
[.1] 184.4 g [.2] 355.4 g
Local Name:
enapi
Other Owners:
Samuel P. Powell
Field Collector:
Samuel P. Powell
PRM Source:
Samuel P. Powell
Acquired:
Loaned July 1940
Collected Date:
By 1940
Description:
[.1] Almost lozenge-shaped piece of supple brown goatskin, cut with a point at one end, widening towards the centre of the piece, and then tapering in slightly to the other end which has a convex edge.
The outer surface has been scraped clean of hair, except for four triangular patches, arranged in pairs near either end of the piece, where areas of buff hair have been left intact (Pantone 7401C).
There are a few holes around the body, many of which appear to be accidental; a few holes along the edges may be deliberate, but it is difficult to be certain.
There are 2 areas that have been repaired.
One of these has the remains of older hide stitching, partially overstitched with brown cotton yarn (Pantone 465C); the same thread has been used for an additional mend on the opposite side of the object.
The skin is stained red on both surfaces (Pantone 469C).
The piece has a weight of 184.4 grams, is 1005 mm long and measures 444 mm wide across its centre.
[.2] Roughly square piece of supple brown goatskin, cut with a slightly convex base with a series of triangular points along the edge, irregular but roughly straight sides, and a concave upper edge with a semicircular cut out in the centre, presumably where the neck would be fitted. It is not clear if this was to be worn at the front or the back. The outer surface has been largely scraped clean of hair, except for 7 patches of buff hair that have been left spaced along the lower edge, and a single patch on the upper right and left corners of the upper edge (Pantone 7506C). These look to have been left deliberately; they correspond with each pointed section of the base edge and are quite symmetrical; they also add extra weight and stiffening to these places that may help the piece hang correctly. There are a few holes around the edges, some perhaps from pegging out the hide to dry during the preparation stage; other holes further in from the edges may be deliberately made to allow another material, such as the front piece, or string, to be passed through. This might include 2 largish slits on either side of the neckline, and 2 holes cut near the edge of one side, spaced some distance apart. There is also a local repair, in the form of 2 short rows of hide stitching close to one another near the opposite side edge. The piece is complete, but has some holes through the body that are probably damage, and there is a strong crease running down the centre where it has been folded in half. There is a strong red colouring over part of the body, especially on the outer face, that probably represents deliberate ochre staining (Pantone 469C); the underside of the garment is a lighter yellowish brown colour (Pantone 7509C). An unusual feature are 2 v-shaped groups of lines, a darker red than the surrounding hide, on opposite sides of the lower part of the garment. These may be a decorative device. The piece has a weight of 355.4 grams, and is 670 mm long, 660 mm across the upper corners and 770 mm wide across the centre of the body.
The 2 hide pieces are quite different in shape, but cut from similar material while sharing some similarities of design, such as in the patches of hair that are left at strategic places around the border. It would appear that they were intended to be treated as related garments for the upper body, presumably to be worn together, although the exact manner of their use is not entirely clear.
Collected by Samuel P. Powell from Xapari, Torit, in the former Equatorial Province of Southern Sudan, and given on loan to the Pitt Rivers Museum in 1940.
This garment was worn by men as a kind of 'shirt'. The Lotuko name for this object is enapi.
Rachael Sparks 14/9/2005.
[.2] Roughly square piece of supple brown goatskin, cut with a slightly convex base with a series of triangular points along the edge, irregular but roughly straight sides, and a concave upper edge with a semicircular cut out in the centre, presumably where the neck would be fitted. It is not clear if this was to be worn at the front or the back. The outer surface has been largely scraped clean of hair, except for 7 patches of buff hair that have been left spaced along the lower edge, and a single patch on the upper right and left corners of the upper edge (Pantone 7506C). These look to have been left deliberately; they correspond with each pointed section of the base edge and are quite symmetrical; they also add extra weight and stiffening to these places that may help the piece hang correctly. There are a few holes around the edges, some perhaps from pegging out the hide to dry during the preparation stage; other holes further in from the edges may be deliberately made to allow another material, such as the front piece, or string, to be passed through. This might include 2 largish slits on either side of the neckline, and 2 holes cut near the edge of one side, spaced some distance apart. There is also a local repair, in the form of 2 short rows of hide stitching close to one another near the opposite side edge. The piece is complete, but has some holes through the body that are probably damage, and there is a strong crease running down the centre where it has been folded in half. There is a strong red colouring over part of the body, especially on the outer face, that probably represents deliberate ochre staining (Pantone 469C); the underside of the garment is a lighter yellowish brown colour (Pantone 7509C). An unusual feature are 2 v-shaped groups of lines, a darker red than the surrounding hide, on opposite sides of the lower part of the garment. These may be a decorative device. The piece has a weight of 355.4 grams, and is 670 mm long, 660 mm across the upper corners and 770 mm wide across the centre of the body.
The 2 hide pieces are quite different in shape, but cut from similar material while sharing some similarities of design, such as in the patches of hair that are left at strategic places around the border. It would appear that they were intended to be treated as related garments for the upper body, presumably to be worn together, although the exact manner of their use is not entirely clear.
Collected by Samuel P. Powell from Xapari, Torit, in the former Equatorial Province of Southern Sudan, and given on loan to the Pitt Rivers Museum in 1940.
This garment was worn by men as a kind of 'shirt'. The Lotuko name for this object is enapi.
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.
[p.
314] From the LATUKA tribe, EQUATORIAL PROVINCE ANGLO-EGYPTIAN SUDAN.
1940.7.091 (a)(b) - Shirt of goatskin, worn by men (2 pieces) (
enapi
) From XAPARI, TORIT.
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the tribes catalogue card [RTS 26/5/2004].
Related Documents File - Appears on undated typed list: "Latuka shirt (two pieces) called Enapi. This is of goat skin. From Xapari, Torit". List is annotated by hand on back: "List of Curios" and "Far from complete" [RTS 16/12/2003].
Pitt Rivers Museum label - Man's Goatskin shirt ( enapi) [insert] enapi [end insert] (2 pieces). LATUKA. From XAPARI, TORIT. S.P. Powell [Brown luggage label, tied to object; there is a second label with the same data tied to 1940.7.091.1; RTS 16/2/2005].
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the tribes catalogue card [RTS 26/5/2004].
Related Documents File - Appears on undated typed list: "Latuka shirt (two pieces) called Enapi. This is of goat skin. From Xapari, Torit". List is annotated by hand on back: "List of Curios" and "Far from complete" [RTS 16/12/2003].
Pitt Rivers Museum label - Man's Goatskin shirt ( enapi) [insert] enapi [end insert] (2 pieces). LATUKA. From XAPARI, TORIT. S.P. Powell [Brown luggage label, tied to object; there is a second label with the same data tied to 1940.7.091.1; RTS 16/2/2005].
