Dinka dance club
Other views of this artifact:
Accession Number:
1954.5.116
Country:
Sudan
Region:
Darfur El Fasher
Cultural Group:
Dinka
Date Made:
By 1936
Materials:
Wood Plant
Process:
Carved , Incised , Stained ? , Polished
Dimensions:
Total L = 625, handle L = 534, max W = 37.3, th = 36.2, head L = 225, W = 88, th = 69 mm [RTS 11/5/2005].
Weight:
>1000g
Other Owners:
Anthony John Arkell, deposited in the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology Cambridge in 1937; passed onto the PRM at Arkell's request in 1954 [RTS 11/5/2005].
Field Collector:
Anthony John Arkell
PRM Source:
Anthony John Arkell
Acquired:
Donated May 1954
Collected Date:
1934 - 1936
Description:
Dance club carved from a single piece of wood, taking advantage of a 'found form'.
This consists of a solid head that branches into two tapering parts with flat-cut tips.
The base of the head is curved, and it sits at right angles to the handle, which consists of a narrow shaft with oval section that tapers to a pointed butt.
As a whole, it represents a stylised bull's phallus (shaft) and testicles (club head).
The surface is a yellowish brown (Pantone 729C), stained or burnt darker brown to black in places, and polished throughout.
There is a single, shallow line incised around the upper part of the handle, but it is otherwise unmarked.
There are some minor cracks across the surface and a gouge just above the handle butt, but the object is otherwise complete and intact.
It has a weight in excess of 1000 grams, with a total length of 625 mm.
The handle is 534 mm long, 37.3 mm wide and 36.2 mm thick at its widest part; the head is 225 mm long, 88 mm wide and 69 mm thick.
Collected by Anthony John Arkell at El Fasher in the Sudan between 1934 and 1936, and deposited in the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology at Cambridge in 1937; passed onto the Pitt Rivers Museum at Arkell's request in 1954.
Rachael Sparks 27/9/2005.
Collected by Anthony John Arkell at El Fasher in the Sudan between 1934 and 1936, and deposited in the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology at Cambridge in 1937; passed onto the Pitt Rivers Museum at Arkell's request in 1954.
Rachael Sparks 27/9/2005.
Primary Documentation:
Accession Book Entry
[p.
148] - DR.
A.J.
ARKELL, DEPT.
OF EGYPTOLOGY, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON, GOWER ST, W.C.1.
Collection made by him in the SUDAN in 1934-6, part of which came to the Museum at that time.
See IX.
276.
[p.
155] - SUDAN, DINKA.
Wooden dancing club, representing bull's phallus.
Bought at El Fasher.
Length 60.1 cm (37D.150).
Additional Accession Book Entry [facing p. 148] - This collection was lent to the Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology, Cambridge. Numbers in brackets are from its catalogue.
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the catalogue card [RTS 03/03/2004].
Pitt Rivers Museum label - Dinka dancing club (bull's phallus). Obtained at El Fasher Darfur [pencil] 37D.150 d.d. A.J. Arkell 1954.5.116 [ink, on reverse of circular metal-edged tag, tied to object; RTS 6/4/2005].
Written on object - 37D.150 [ink, on handle end]; DINKA DANCING CLUB EL FASHER [ink, on head]; Dance-club SUDAN. DINKA d.d. A.J. Arkell 1954.5.116 [ink, on handle body; RTS 6/4/2005].
Additional Accession Book Entry [facing p. 148] - This collection was lent to the Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology, Cambridge. Numbers in brackets are from its catalogue.
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the catalogue card [RTS 03/03/2004].
Pitt Rivers Museum label - Dinka dancing club (bull's phallus). Obtained at El Fasher Darfur [pencil] 37D.150 d.d. A.J. Arkell 1954.5.116 [ink, on reverse of circular metal-edged tag, tied to object; RTS 6/4/2005].
Written on object - 37D.150 [ink, on handle end]; DINKA DANCING CLUB EL FASHER [ink, on head]; Dance-club SUDAN. DINKA d.d. A.J. Arkell 1954.5.116 [ink, on handle body; RTS 6/4/2005].
