File:Brooklyn Museum 1992.196.3 Divination Object Gbaule (2).jpg
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Captions
English: Divination Object (Gbaule) ( ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Artist |
Unknown authorUnknown author |
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Title |
English: Divination Object (Gbaule) |
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Description |
English: The humanoid face is made of clay with aluminum eyebrows and a ridge on the forehead. The eyes are of cowry shell. A band of orange pigment extends across the eyes. The face is attached to a rattan structure with a loop at the lower end. The back side is covered with leather and a loop with cloth to which cowry shells are attached. The coiffure of the face is composed of tufts of cow's tail hair, feathers, and heads of rice. The four teeth are pieces of glass. Condition: stable but fragile.
English: This object creates a frightening and otherworldly effect. Gbaule are divination objects used by the We to determine the causes of illness and to identify evil forces. A diviner holds the gbaule while in a trance. He is asked questions, and the movement of the gbaule indicates a response. The divination society associated with this object was created by a man of the neighboring Krou people who had served as a soldier in France in World War I, and it became quite popular in the following decade. This origin explains why a head such as this one is also called a commandant. |
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Date |
English: early 20th century |
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Dimensions | 22 1/2 x 16 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (57.2 x 41.9 x 8.9 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Collection |
institution QS:P195,Q632682 |
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Current location |
Arts of Africa collection South Gallery, 1st Floor |
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Accession number | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Credit line | Gift of Blake Robinson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notes |
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Source/Photographer | Online Collection of Brooklyn Museum; Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.1992.196.3_print_bw.jpg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Permission (Reusing this file) |
This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license. Attribution: Brooklyn Museum
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Date/Time | Thumbnail | Dimensions | User | Comment | |
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current | 11:13, 2 November 2012 | 1,190 × 1,536 (253 KB) | Slick-o-bot (talk | contribs) | {{Artwork | Artist = {{unknown}} | Title = {{en|Divination Object (Gbaule)}} | Year = {{en|early 20th century}} | Description = {{en|The humanoid face is made of clay with aluminum eyebrows and a ridge on t... |
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