Northern Larim stool

Other views of this artifact:

Accession Number:

1979.20.160

Country:

Sudan

Region:

[Southern Sudan] Eastern Equatoria Napongayit

Cultural Group:

Northern Larim

Date Made:

By 1979

Materials:

Wood Plant , Bark Wood Plant

Process:

Carved , Burnt

Dimensions:

L = 509, Ht = 228; seat L = 460, seat W = 32.2, seat th = 33; back leg diam = 22.5 by 21.5 mm; bark th = 2 mm [RTS 22/3/2005].

Weight:

749.1 g

Local Name:

taba

Other Owners:

Purchased at Napongayit for 50 piastres by Patti Langton during the British Institute in East Africa's expedition to the Southern Sudan on the 24th March 1979.

Field Collector:

Patti Langton

PRM Source:

Patti Langton

Acquired:

Purchased 1979

Collected Date:

24 March 1979

Description:

Unfinished stool carved from a single piece of yellowish brown wood (Pantone 7403C). This is an example of 'found form', where a naturally occurring tree branch with subsidiary limbs coming off the main body has been chosen because its shape was particularly suited to the intended use. This was shaped by trimming off excess foliage, cutting the legs to the same height and removing the outer bark covering; however in this instance, the dark reddish brown coloured bark has still been left on the surface of the back leg (Pantone black 7C to 4625C). This might suggest that the actual trimming to shape occurred before the surface was finished. The stool consists of a narrow seat, almost imperceptibly flattened across the top but retaining a convex curve across its width, and a much stronger concave curve across its length, rising to either end where at the front the flattening of the upper surface becomes more marked. This front end is also broader, and has been cut flat across the front face before thickening below. The back end has also been trimmed and is almost circular in section. Two branches extend from the underside of the seat. The one at the front is thicker, with a central shaft that divides at its base to form 2 legs that splay out in opposite directions, in an inverted Y shape, while a single branch extends from the back of the stool, almost at right angles to the body. The bases of the front legs have been cut at a marked angle; these rest on the edges of the feet, but show no use-wear on these surfaces. The back leg has been cut flat across its underside, and has a very small amount of polish running along the centre. The stool is complete and intact; there are a few scorch marks over knots in the wood, where smaller branches appear to have been burnt off. It has a weight of around 749.1 grams, and is 509 mm long, with a height of 228 mm. The seat is 460 mm long, 32.2 mm wide and 33 mm thick; the back leg has a diameter of 22.5 by 21.5 mm; the bark is 2 mm thick.

Purchased for 50 piastres by Patti Langton at Napongayit in the Kerenge Clan area on the 24th March 1979, during the British Institute in East Africa's expedition to the Southern Sudan.

This type of object is known as taba, and was probably made by specialist men. They are used as stools by men, and by women when they become old. Some stools are specially made for elders. For a similar example, see 1979.20.161, which was purchased with a cotton shirt.

Rachael Sparks 8/9/2005.

Primary Documentation:

Accession Book Entry - [p. 185] 1979.20 (.1 - 206) P[urchase] MISS PATTI LANGTON, DEPT. of ETHNOLOGY & PREHISTORY, OXFORD. Collection made by Patti Langton during the British Institute in East Africa's expedition to the Southern Sudan; Jan. - April 1979. The collection was made in three culture areas during the dry season. The amount paid for each object is listed if the information is known. In Jan. 1979 £1 is equivalent to 95 piastres (pt.) Sudanese. This documentation is based largely upon Patti's own list of objects and her notes on these. Sometimes objects included in the Pitt Rivers alootment of the collection do not appear on her list and have been added here. See Related Documents file as well. [p. 204] 1979.20.136 - 193 SOUTHERN SUDAN the LARIM The Larim live about 50 miles west of Kapoeta in the eastern corner of S. Sudan. They are a non-Nilotic pastoral people, living in permanent mountain villages. They are part of the Didinga-Longarim-Murle language group. They live in the Boya Hills - Boya is the Topasa (neighbouring group) name for the Larim, which is also used by the Administration. Longarim is the Didinga's name for them but they call themselves the Larim, and that is used here. [p. 205] The LARIM The collection was made in two parts. The "PL" labelled material was collected during Pat Langton's stay in a village in the Northern Larim area. The "∆" labelled material was collected by Jill Goudie, one of the archaeologists on the Expedition, from the base camp LARYOK, among the Southern Larim. Money is known among the Larim but it is used only for buying beads for women from Kapoeta, or for the few members of the group who would go to Juba. The women especially were more interested in exchange gifts of salt, cloth & soap. The Larim material is documented in three parts: a) General Larim pieces - no information as to which section of the Larim it comes from b) the "PL" Collection from the Northern Larim, from three of the eight Northern Larim clans c) the Southern Larim material collected by Jill Goudie, numbered "∆". [p. 208] 1979.20.155 - 162 NORTH LARIM/BOYA; KERENGE CLAN, NAPONGAYIT VILLAGE; 24.3.79 [p. 209] 1979.20.160 Unfinished 3-legged wooden stool, taba , for men to sit on. Probably made by specialist men. These become used by women when they are old. L = 46.5 cm.; Coll. no. PL 53. Cost 50 pt.
Additional Accession Book Entry [below accession number in red biro] - A5-F35-9.

Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the catalogue card [RTS 25/5/2004].

Related Documents File - 1979.20 contains a typed packing list, which has been annotated; a typed list of objects arranged by Langton collection numbers and with pencil and biro annotations, and a handwritten list of objects by museum number, essentially repeating this information and annotated with PRM photo numbers in red. This handwritten list seems to be the direct source for the accession book entry. This item appears in Langton's list under the heading 'Purchased in Kerenge clan, Napongayit village, where I was living', as 'Stool, Taba , for men to sit on. Made by specialist (?) men. These become stools for women when they are old. This one is unfinished. Some stools are specially made for elders etc. 50 pt.' [RTS 12/1/2004].

Pitt Rivers Museum label - S. SUDAN, NORTHERN LARIM, unfinished stool. P. Langton coll, PL 53, 1979.20.160 [plastic label with metal eyelet, tied to object; RTS 22/3/2005].