1971.15.94.1

Collection type

Object

Description

Pair of leather sheaths [.1 - 2] holding pairs of metal tweezers [.3 - 4] with pointed extension. Joined by leather strip, ear scoop [.5], tooth pick [.6], and nail cleaner [.7]. [LKG 17/07/2009]

Long description

Pair of leather sheaths [.1 - 2] holding pairs of metal tweezers [.3 - 4] with pointed extension. Joined by leather strip, ear scoop [.5], tooth pick [.6], and nail cleaner [.7]. The longest leather [.2] sheath is embellished with tooled geometric designs of diagonally crossed pairs of lines bordered by parallel rows of three lines. This decoration is to the top of the sheath, where it opens to allow a long pair of tweezers to be stored. Both leather sheaths are trimmed with green leather and have leather thongs running from their open ends by which the two are tied together. The ear scoop [.5] is made of a copper metal and has a stamped or incised design on its topside similar to that on the largest leather sheath. The tooth pick [.6] and nail cleaner [.7] are of a brass metal. The tooth pick [.6] has a rectangular top with an incised design of crossing diagonal lines, somewhat like hatching. The nail cleaner [.7] has a rounded tubular top with incised rings running around its diameter. All three tools are fastened together by a copper pin which passes through their decorated tops and through the two legs of a bent over copper top loop. Through this loop the leather thong used to tie the leather sheaths together has been passed. The small pair of tweezers [.3] has a central area which is square in cross section. On one side of this are tweezers, on the other a long pointed tool. All is badly damaged by rust. The second, longer pair of tweezers [.4] is much larger and securely held in the leather sheath so that removal is not advisable. The larger tweezers show signs of damage as green corrosion product. [LKG 17/07/2009]

Geographical reference

Nigeria

Africa > Western Africa > Nigeria

Sudan, Republic of

Africa > Northern Africa > Sudan, Republic of

Sokoto

Person

Field collector Anthony John Arkell

PRM source Anthony John Arkell

Date / Period

Date made: Before 1948

Date collected

By 1948

Acquisition information

Donated: 26/10/1971

Materials and processes

Material Animal Leather Skin, Material Metal, Material Copper Metal, Material Brass Metal, Material Pigment, Material Plant Fibre, Process Decorated, Process Tooled, Process Forged (Metal), Process Incised, Process Stitched, Process Stamped

Dimensions

Depth 62 mm [.6], Length 125 mm [.1 with .3 inside], Length 165 mm [.2 with .7 inside], Length 61 mm [.5]

Object numbers

Accession number: 1971.15.94.1 Accession number: 1971.15.94.2 Accession number: 1971.15.94.3 Accession number: 1971.15.94.4 Accession number: 1971.15.94.5 Accession number: 1971.15.94.6 Accession number: 1971.15.94.7

Search terms: Toilet, Vessel, Tool, Toilet Article, Tweezers, Ear Scoop