Nuer dance stick
Other views of this artifact:
Accession Number:
1931.66.12
Country:
Sudan
Region:
[Southern Sudan]
Cultural Group:
Nuer
Date Made:
By 1931
Materials:
Wood Plant
Process:
Carved , Polished , Perforated , Pyroengraved Pokerwork , Incised , Decorated
Dimensions:
L = 1512, max W = 65, Max th = 24.3, diam shaft = 24 by 23, diam knob = 16 by 14.4, dimensions of grip opening = 90 by 20.5 mm [RTS 3/1/2005].
Weight:
554.4 g
Other Owners:
Collected by Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard either in the early part of 1930 (probably February to April), or between February and June of 1931 [CM; RTS 9/7/2004].
Field Collector:
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
PRM Source:
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
Acquired:
Donated December 1931
Collected Date:
1930 - 1931
Description:
Dance stick carved from a single piece of dark reddish brown wood (Pantone 476C), consisting of a phallic rounded knob offset from a narrow, round sectioned shaft that widens and flattens at the centre to form an ovoid hand grip, with a lentoid section cut out of the middle.
On one side this handle area is narrow and has an ovoid section; the opposite part has 2 flat cut faces that meet at a sharp angle on the outside edge.
The shaft narrows again on the other side, tapering to a pointed end that is pierced just above the base.
The surface of the stick has been decorated with a series of incised lines, burnt in using a heated metal tool.
The upper part has been decorated with a continuous groove that spirals down the body; this has been applied as a series of short strokes that merge in with one another.
Just above the handle area this pattern changes to one made up of 4 broad bands, each defined by horizontal lines at top and bottom, and filled with vertical rows of short horizontal dashes.
The grip area is similarly framed, and filled with longer strokes or horizontal hatching, then below there are 2 further bands with short filling lines, followed by another continuous spiral that continues to the end.
The perforated end has been slightly damaged, with some areas of the surface missing; the knob end appears somewhat worn.
Otherwise the dance stick is complete, with a polished surface.
It has a weight of 554.4 grams, and is 1512 mm long with a maximum width of 65 mm at the centre and a thickness there of 24.3 mm, while the grip opening measures 90 by 20.5 mm across.
The shaft has a diameter of 24 by 23 mm, and the knob end measures 16 by 14.4 mm, while the small perforation at one end has a diameter of 4 mm.
This form appears to have been derived from the shape of the Nuer parrying shield.
This object was collected by Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard during his first or second seasons of fieldwork amongst the Nuer, e.g.: in February to April 1930 or between February and June of 1931, in 'the dry season'. In the former, he spent around three and a half months in Leek territory at Yahnyang and Pakur on the Bahr el Ghazal, in Lou territory at Muot Dit, and at Adok, amongst the Dok Nuer. In the latter, he spent five and a half months at Nasir, on the Nyanding River, and at Yakwat on the Sobat River (see E.E. Evans-Pritchard, 1940, The Nuer , and the map of Evans-Pritchard's fieldwork in D.H. Johnson, "Evans-Pritchard, the Nuer, and the Sudan Political Service", African Affairs 81 no. 323, p. 233) (pers. comm. Chris Morton 2004).
Dance stick, of a form that is derived from wooden parrying shields. For similar dance sticks, see 1931.66.11 and 1931.66.13.
Currently on display in the Upper Gallery, case 26A.
Rachael Sparks 18/9/2005.
This object was collected by Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard during his first or second seasons of fieldwork amongst the Nuer, e.g.: in February to April 1930 or between February and June of 1931, in 'the dry season'. In the former, he spent around three and a half months in Leek territory at Yahnyang and Pakur on the Bahr el Ghazal, in Lou territory at Muot Dit, and at Adok, amongst the Dok Nuer. In the latter, he spent five and a half months at Nasir, on the Nyanding River, and at Yakwat on the Sobat River (see E.E. Evans-Pritchard, 1940, The Nuer , and the map of Evans-Pritchard's fieldwork in D.H. Johnson, "Evans-Pritchard, the Nuer, and the Sudan Political Service", African Affairs 81 no. 323, p. 233) (pers. comm. Chris Morton 2004).
Dance stick, of a form that is derived from wooden parrying shields. For similar dance sticks, see 1931.66.11 and 1931.66.13.
Currently on display in the Upper Gallery, case 26A.
Rachael Sparks 18/9/2005.
Primary Documentation:
Accession Book Entry
[IX, p.
16] 1931 [insert, in pencil] 66 [end insert]
E.
EVANS-PRITCHARD
, Esq.
Dec.
Specimens collected by himself in the EASTERN SUDAN, viz.
[insert, in pencil] 11-13 [end insert] - [One of] 3 Dance-sticks of a form clearly derived from a somewhat similar parrying-shield, with central carved out ‘knuckle-guard grip, & long tapering ends.
NUER (properly called NATH).
Additional Accession Book Entry [p. 15] - 1931.66.11-12 Nos given AP l[ength] = 1500 + 1510 mm.
Card Catalogue Entry [tribes] - information as in the accession book entry, with photograph number added in red: A21.F26.1-2. It is not clear which object corresponds to which image. [RTS 23/7/2004].
Old Pitt Rivers Museum label - Parrying-shield dance stick, NUER tribe, E. SUDAN. Pres. by E. Evans Pritchard, 1931 [paper label stuck to surface of object, discoloured; RTS 13/1/2005].
Additional Accession Book Entry [p. 15] - 1931.66.11-12 Nos given AP l[ength] = 1500 + 1510 mm.
Card Catalogue Entry [tribes] - information as in the accession book entry, with photograph number added in red: A21.F26.1-2. It is not clear which object corresponds to which image. [RTS 23/7/2004].
Old Pitt Rivers Museum label - Parrying-shield dance stick, NUER tribe, E. SUDAN. Pres. by E. Evans Pritchard, 1931 [paper label stuck to surface of object, discoloured; RTS 13/1/2005].
