Ivory pendant earring decorated with incised ring and dot motif [RTS 8/7/2004].

Collection type: Object
Description: Ivory pendant earring decorated with incised ring and dot motif [RTS 8/7/2004].
Long description: Earring carved from a single piece of pale cream coloured ivory (Pantone 7401C), cut into an irregular shape with slightly curved upper edge, flanked by two short squared projecting lugs on either side then four longer squared arms angled out from the body; the shape is reminiscent of a human figure with two ears, outstretched armns and legs. The body has very slightly convex upper and lower surfaces and flat side edges, and has been pierced near the top with a large circular suspension hole. The upper surface has been decorated with a series of incised ring and dot motifs, all made with a tool of similar size, with a central dot 1 mm in diameter and an outer ring that is 4 mm in diameter. There is a curving row of dotted circles running as a frame around the lower half of the suspension hole, a single dotted circle at the end of each 'arm' and on one 'leg', and two dotted circles in a row down the other 'leg'. Some of the circles overlap slightly; all incisions have been inlaid with a black material to make them stand out against the pale colour of the ivory. The earring is complete and intact, and has a weight of 2.7 grams. It is 23.3 mm long, 28 mm wide and 4.7 mm thick, while the suspension hole has a diameter of 6 mm [RTS 9/7/2004].
Geographical reference: South Sudan
Africa > Eastern Africa > South Sudan; Northern Bahr el Ghazal Dhangrial Wun Rog Mayen
Cultural groups: Dinka Tuich
Person: Maker Liail Atem; Field collector Patti Langton; PRM source Patti Langton
Date / Period: Date made: Before 1979
Date collected: 17 - 26 February 1979
Acquisition information: Purchased: 1979
Materials and processes: Material Animal Ivory Tooth, Process Carved, Process Perforated, Process Incised, Process Inlaid, Process Decorated
Dimensions: Length 23.3 mm, Width 28 mm, Thick 4.7 mm, Diameter 6 mm hole, Weight 2.7 g
Object numbers: Accession number: 1979.20.129
Research and responses: At the time this object was collected, the Bahr el Ghazal province was bordered by the Upper Nile Province to the east and Western Equatoria to the south; this area is now divided into the districts of Western Bahr el Ghazal, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, and parts of Warab and El Buheyrat. Dhangrial, Wun Rog and Mayen lie within Northern Bahr el Ghazal. For a map showing the distribution of Dinka Tuich groups, see J. Ryle, 1982, Warriors of the White Nile: The Dinka, p. 25. Although no place or date of collection is given for this object, Langton's expedition appears to have been collecting Dinka material from these three sites between 17/2/1979 and 26/2/1979 [RTS 12/1/2004].
For similar earrings, see 1979.20.127-8; these are in the same style and of comparable size, but not identical in body shape or decoration [RTS 8/7/2004].
The material was confirmed as ivory by conservation in October 2004 [RTS 2/11/2004].
Associated publications: Illustrated in colour as figure c on page 27 of A Shared Struggle: The People & Cultures of South Sudan, edited by Tim McKulka (no place [Juba]: Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Government of the Republic of South Sudan and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, 2013). Caption (same page): 'Dinka ivory earring'. [JC 28 2 2014]

Search terms: Ornament, Ear Ornament