Toposa arm ornament
Other views of this artifact:
Accession Number:
1979.20.205
Country:
Sudan
Region:
[Southern Sudan]
Cultural Group:
Toposa
Date Made:
By 1980
Materials:
Wood Plant , Animal Hide Skin , Animal Skin , Animal Hair
Process:
Carved , Perforated , Tied , Stained
Dimensions:
L ring = 106 mm, W ring = 104 mm, Th ring = 15 mm, Diam hole = 4 mm, W hide strip = 3.5 to 5 mm, Th strip = 1 mm, L with tassels = 330 and 340 mm [RTS 7/4/2004].
Weight:
48.4 g
Other Owners:
This object was collected by Brian John Mack when working amongst the Toposa in the Southern Sudan in 1980. It appears to have been accessioned retrospectively as part of Patti Langton's collection later that year, using the same group number assigned to
Field Collector:
Brian John Mack (known as John Mack).
PRM Source:
Patti Langton
Acquired:
Purchased ?1979
Collected Date:
1980
Description:
Penannular wooden arm ornament, carved from a single piece of wood into a circular ring with cut ends that are almost touching; this cut is jagged, rather than straight.
The ring has narrow sides with a flat inner face and underside, and slightly convex upper surface and outer face, giving it a sub rectangular section.
It has been perforated with a single hole at either end, through which a narrow strip of hide has been passed and then knotted on one side, with two long lengths of hide hanging loose and ending in furry animal hair tassels.
These tassels look to be made from a strip of animal skin with the hair in place on one side, which has been wound around the hide strip and knotted in place.
The wood has been stained a dark brown on most faces (Pantone 1545C); the original yellowish brown colour is still visible on the outside edges (Pantone 146C); the hide strip is a very dark brown (Pantone black 2C) while the tassels are a light cream colour (Pantone 7506C).
The ring itself has an old cut across one side, but is otherwise complete, intact and in good condition.
It measures 106 by 104 mm across the outside edges, has an internal diameter of 72 mm, and a thickness of 15 mm.
The holes have a diameter of 4 mm, the hide strips are from 3.5 to 5 mm wide and 1 mm thick, and each has a length from top knot to the end of each tassel of 330 and 340 mm respectively.
The combined weight of armlet and tassels is 48.4 grams.
It is possible that the ring has been cut to allow it to be fitted to the owner's arm more easily.
This object was collected by Brian John Mack when working amongst the Toposa in the Southern Sudan in 1980. It appears to have been accessioned retrospectively as part of Patti Langton's collection later that year, using the same group number assigned to material from her 1979 expedition, which Mack had been a part of. However his 1980 fieldwork appears to have been undertaken independently of Langton, although she was working amongst the nearby Boya at the same time (pers. comm. John Mack 8/10/2004).
Dinka men add similar tassels, made from cow tails, to some of their armlets (e.g.: A. Fisher 1984, Africa Adorned, p. 56). Discussions of the Toposa may be found by Captain G.R. King in L.F. Nalder (ed.), 1937, A Tribal Survey of the Mongalla Province, pp 65-81 and A.C. Beaton, 1950, "Record of the Toposa Tribe", Sudan Notes and Records XXXI .
Rachael Sparks 25/9/2005.
This object was collected by Brian John Mack when working amongst the Toposa in the Southern Sudan in 1980. It appears to have been accessioned retrospectively as part of Patti Langton's collection later that year, using the same group number assigned to material from her 1979 expedition, which Mack had been a part of. However his 1980 fieldwork appears to have been undertaken independently of Langton, although she was working amongst the nearby Boya at the same time (pers. comm. John Mack 8/10/2004).
Dinka men add similar tassels, made from cow tails, to some of their armlets (e.g.: A. Fisher 1984, Africa Adorned, p. 56). Discussions of the Toposa may be found by Captain G.R. King in L.F. Nalder (ed.), 1937, A Tribal Survey of the Mongalla Province, pp 65-81 and A.C. Beaton, 1950, "Record of the Toposa Tribe", Sudan Notes and Records XXXI .
Rachael Sparks 25/9/2005.
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 alottment of the collection do not appear on her list and have been added here.
See Related Documents file as well.
[p.
214] 1979.20.194 - SOUTHERN SUDAN TOPOSA Collected in 1980 and sent via John Mack, Mus.
of Mankind [p.
215] 1979.20.205 Penannular wooden ring, ends perforated and tied together with two leather strings with furry animal legs at the ends.
Additional Accession Book Entry [below accession number in red biro] - A6-F25-11.
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the tribes catalogue card [RTS 23/7/2004].
Pitt Rivers Museum label - AFRICA, Southern Sudan TOPOSA Wooden arm ornament with animal tail tassels Purchased by John Mack (Patti Langton) 1979 1979.20.205 [LM 'DCF 2004-2006 What's Upstairs?' 12/10/2005]
Additional Accession Book Entry [below accession number in red biro] - A6-F25-11.
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the tribes catalogue card [RTS 23/7/2004].
Pitt Rivers Museum label - AFRICA, Southern Sudan TOPOSA Wooden arm ornament with animal tail tassels Purchased by John Mack (Patti Langton) 1979 1979.20.205 [LM 'DCF 2004-2006 What's Upstairs?' 12/10/2005]
