box
- Museum number
- Af1978,22.218
- Description
-
Box; carved from wood; rectangular base carved from single piece of wood; four feet attached to bottom, carved to resemble gourd? or seed?; outside of box carved with cross-hatched diamonds along bottom, and two rows of crossed snakes around top half; base joined to lid with two metal hinges at back; rectangular lid carved from single piece of wood; sides of lid carved with cross-hatched diamonds; figures carved on top: across front, crocodile with snake wrapped around it biting its right front leg, next to two coiled snakes (the crocodile is biting both the snake wrapped around it and one of the two coiled snakes next to it); across back coiled snake, two crocodiles facing each other, each with one end of the same fish in its mouth.
- Production date
- 1850-1927
- Dimensions
-
Height: 24.50 centimetres
-
Width: 40.50 centimetres
-
Depth: 26 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- Card inside box reads: "The collection contains a number of wooden boxes similar to the two exhibited here. All were made for Europeans by a carver who was active in the Abetifi area of Kwahu before 1906. This area had broken away from Asante rule in 1874 and became a centre of missionary activity. Although the boxes show some traditional motifs they are rare examples of early 'tourist art'."
- Location
- Not on display
- Condition
- Head of coiled snake at back of lid missing.
- Acquisition date
- 1978
- Department
- Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- Registration number
- Af1978,22.218
- Additional IDs
-
Miscellaneous number: G211 (Barclay number)
-
Miscellaneous number: W148
