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1936.10.47

Trimmed wooden stick with branched end, used for stirring porridge.

1936.10.47

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Collection type
Object
Description
Trimmed wooden stick with branched end, used for stirring porridge.
Long description
Wooden stick with roughly straight body with varying round to oval section, from which a series of 10 knobs protrude at various angles, representing the stumps of smaller branches that have been roughly trimmed off from the main shaft. The bark has been largely stripped off, leaving a few patches behind. At the base of the stick two side branches have been left as longer pieces, extending at acute angles from the body. This was presumably the base of the tool, which was used to stirr porridge. The underside of the base is irregularly cut and roughly oval in plan view. Although complete, the object has numerous cracks that run down the length of the body on all sides, and there are some holes through one of the side branches that may represent former insect activity. The wood is slightly yellowish brown in colour (Pantone 728C) with a darker reddish brown bark (Pantone 476C). It has a length of 585 mm, with a width across the stirring arms of 105.5 mm; the body has a diameter of 12 mm near the top, measures 16 by 15.5. at its centre and has a diameter of 16 mm near the base, while the stirring arms have a diameter of 9.5 to 10 mm. The object weighs 111.1 grams overall [RTS 28/6/2004].
Geographical reference
South Sudan
Africa > Eastern Africa > South Sudan
Cultural groups
Anywaa (Anuak)
Date / Period
Date made: Before 1936
Date collected
March - May 1935
Acquisition information
Donated: 1936
Materials and processes
Material Wood Plant, Process Carved
Dimensions
Diameter: max 16 mm stick, Length: max 585 mm, Width: max 105.5 mm, Weight 111.1 g
Object numbers
Accession number: 1936.10.47
Research and responses

Evans-Pritchard conducted his fieldwork amongst the Anuak between early March and May 1935 (E.E. Evans-Pritchard, 1940, The Political System of the Anuak of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, p. 3).

Food stirrers of this type are found amongst groups such as the Acholi, Lango, and Kakwa of Uganda (see M. Howell & K.P. Wachsmann, 1953, Tribal Crafts of Uganda, p. 164, pl. 39E or possibly 39F) [RTS 22/8/2005].

Search terms: Food and Drink, Tool, Stirrer, Food Accessory, Cooking Tool