Nuer dance stick
Other views of this artifact:
Accession Number:
1931.66.13
Country:
Sudan
Region:
[Southern Sudan]
Cultural Group:
Nuer
Date Made:
By 1931
Materials:
Wood Plant
Process:
Carved , Polished , Decorated , Pyroengraved Pokerwork , Incised
Dimensions:
L = 1687 mm; diam shaft = 20 mm; max W = 64.3 mm [RTS 24/2/2004]
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 wood, varying in colour from a light yellowish brown to a darker reddish brown (Pantone 4625C).
This is rounded at one end, with a narrow round sectioned shaft gradually tapering out to the central area, which becomes wider and flatter, with a lentoid section.
The shaft continues on the other side, tapering in to a more pointed end with a shallow groove cut into it.
A hand grip has been carved into the broad central section, roughly oval in shape with flat sides and curved ends; this is positioned close to one edge, while two holes have been bored through the opposite edge.
It looks as though these have been bored from both sides of the object.
The surface of the grip is convex on the side closest to the edge, and flat on the opposite side, fitting the shape of the hand comfortably.
Engraved linear designs have been cut into the surface, and coloured black, probably applied using a heated tool.
the shaft is decorated with a series of bands comprising rows of short horizontal dashes framed by solid horizontal lines above and below.
These bands vary in width, and consist of five groups above the hand grip and eleven below it.
The broader grip area is largely decorated with unbroken lines; these are horizontal on either end, with oblique lines radiating out from the central hole.
There are also two rows of dashes as a central motif on both upper and lower surfaces near the small edge perforations.
The surface may have been stained, and has certainly been polished, removing most tool marks, although some are still visible inside the grip.
Complete and intact.
Length 1687 mm, diameter of shaft 20 mm, maximum width 64.3 mm, thickness of central area 28.2 mm, length of hand grip hollow 78.6 mm, width of hand grip 31 mm, and width of smaller edge perforations 5 mm.
This form is similar to the Nuer parrying shield, and may have been derived from it.
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 1931.66.11-12.
Currently on display in the Upper Gallery, case 3A.
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 1931.66.11-12.
Currently on display in the Upper Gallery, case 3A.
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).
Card Catalogue Entry [tribes] - information as in accession book entry, with added data: L[ength] = ... 1687 mm [RTS 23/7/2004].
Old Pitt Rivers Museum label - AFRICA EASTERN SUDAN, NUER. Dance shield or parrying stick. Don. E. Evans-Pritchard. 1931.66.13 [plastic label with metal eyelet, stored in RDF; RTS 13/1/2004].
Written on object - Parrying-shield dance stick, NUER tribe. E. SUDAN. Pres. by E. Evans Pritchard, 1931. 1931.66.13 [on a label stuck to the surface of the object; RTS 24/2/2004].
Card Catalogue Entry [tribes] - information as in accession book entry, with added data: L[ength] = ... 1687 mm [RTS 23/7/2004].
Old Pitt Rivers Museum label - AFRICA EASTERN SUDAN, NUER. Dance shield or parrying stick. Don. E. Evans-Pritchard. 1931.66.13 [plastic label with metal eyelet, stored in RDF; RTS 13/1/2004].
Written on object - Parrying-shield dance stick, NUER tribe. E. SUDAN. Pres. by E. Evans Pritchard, 1931. 1931.66.13 [on a label stuck to the surface of the object; RTS 24/2/2004].
