Hide thong fastened into a loop, with 3 iron pellet bells strung along its length [RTS 1/9/2005].

Collection type: Object
Description: Hide thong fastened into a loop, with 3 iron pellet bells strung along its length [RTS 1/9/2005].
Long description: Narrow rectangular strip of yellowish brown animal hide (Pantone 729C), bent into a loop with the ends knotted together and still pliant. A set of 3 iron pellet bells have been threaded along its length. Each bell has been formed from an oval piece of sheet iron, doubled over at the centre with the ends left slightly apart to create a narrow slit running along the lower edge. This produces a bell with a semicircular or crescentic body, and a lentoid plan view. There is one small example, 23.5 mm long, 32.4 mm wide and 20 mm thick, and 2 larger versions, measuring 27.5 by 69 by 35.5 mm, and 24.5 by 67.5 by 27.5 mm respectively. The top of each bell has been perforated with a pair of holes. The holes on the small bell have smooth edges with signs of wear. The holes on the larger bells have been punched through from the sheet underside, leaving a raised rim around their edges. Each bell has a single pellet trapped inside the body. The pellet inside the small bell has a smooth grey surface and is probably made of iron. One of the larger bells has a spherical iron pellet with a depression or void in one end, while the remaining bell has what appears to be an iron cylindrical bead inside. The object is complete and intact, while the iron is still a metallic silver colour with little surface rust (Pantone 877C). It has a total weight of 122.8 grams, and the hide loop has an internal diameter of 80 mm, and is 7.6 mm wide and 1 mm thick [RTS 6/9/2005].
Geographical reference: South Sudan
Africa > Eastern Africa > South Sudan
Cultural groups: Toposa
Person: Field collector John Mack; PRM source Patti Langton
Date / Period: Date made: Before 1980
Date collected: 1980
Acquisition information: Purchased: 1979, uncertain
Materials and processes: Material Iron Metal, Material Animal Hide Skin, Material Bead, Process Forged (Metal), Process Hammered, Process Bent, Process Perforated, Process Strung, Process Tied
Dimensions: Width: max 130 mm, Weight 122.8 g
Object numbers: Accession number: 1979.20.204
Research and responses: Discussions of the Toposa may be found by Captain G.R. King in L.F. Nalder (ed.), 1937, A Tribal Survey of the Mongalla Province, pp 65-81 and A.C. Beaton, 1950, "Record of the Toposa Tribe", Sudan Notes and Records XXXI.
This object was probably meant to be worn around the arm or leg, and may have been a dance accessory.
For another group of Toposa bells, see 1979.2.203. Similar loops of bells are also found in other cultures, including the Lotuko (1934.8.82), Madi and Ganda of Uganda (M. Trowell & K.P. Wachsmann, 1953, Tribal Crafts of Uganda, pl. 75D, F-H). These can be spherical or crescent-shaped, and have various functions, being tied around the legs of toddlers, perhaps as a protection against evil spirits, and worn by witch doctors, magicians and brides (pp 324-5). Crescent-shaped pellet bells are also used by the Zande, in conjunction with wooden handles (see 1930.86.60.1-2 and 1931.66.4-5) [RTS 9/12/2004].

Search terms: Music, Bead, Dance, Musical Instrument, Rattle, Bell, Arm Ornament, Leg Ornament, Dance Accessory