table
- Museum number
- Af1886,1208.1
- Description
-
Table consisting of three circular discs, the two upper ones supported by rows of figures, coloured, made of wood and coloured.
- Production date
- 1886 (before)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 85 centimetres
-
Width: 64 centimetres
-
Depth: 60 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- Recorded as "Table made for fetish purposes at Porto Novo, near Dahomey, which contains a double row of figures representing types of the various tribes and inhabitants of that town."
(from the Catalogue of the 1886 Colonial and Indian Exhibition)
On one of the tables there is a curious specimen of a Fetish table from the Dahomey country, surrounded by carved representations of the various kinds of inhabitants of those parts ; also many masks made use of in ceremonial rites, which form a curious and thoroughly characteristic collection. In addition to the above, a basket mode of cowrie shells, the well-known currency of uncivilized tribes of all parts of the world; with some Warree boards (a native game played with seeds), may be alluded to as curiosities in closing our notice of the exhibits of this Colony.
From the District of the Niger is sent a representative collection of incised and repousse brass utensils, the ornamentation of which has considerable grace and beauty of design. In addition to these, some curious specimens of ingeniously-constructed leather bottles are shown ; with samples of cloths and Mohammedan Tobes, which have the prevailing characteristics of the fabrics of Central Africa.
Numerous specimens of the weapons and horse-armour and trappings in use among the natives at the present time are exhibited by Mr. Thomson, the traveller, and others ; as well as some fine tusks of ivory, both plain and artistically ornamented.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1886
- Acquisition notes
- Presented by Sir James Marshall, CMG, Executive Commissioner, West African Court, Colonial and Indian Exhibition, 1886. Although the provenance is from Dahomey, a French colonial country, it was shown in the 1886 exhibition.
Marshall had earlier given Af1886,1122.1 and 2, also recorded as from Dahomey; the slip for these do mention the Colonial and Indian exhibition.
- Department
- Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- Registration number
- Af1886,1208.1