Tortoise carved into a yellowing piece of flat ivory, with suspension loop at mouth. [LKG 10/07/2009]

Collection type: Object
Description: Tortoise carved into a yellowing piece of flat ivory, with suspension loop at mouth. [LKG 10/07/2009]
Long description: Tortoise carved into a yellowing piece of flat ivory, with suspension loop at mouth. The ?tortoise has a long and pointed head and its eyes have been picked out in dots of black/brown paint. The surface of the shell has been carved into several sections, the grooves dividing them portraying the patterns and composition of a tortoise shell. Four legs have been carved and a short tail, the rear legs are longer than the front and appear to have more obvious joints. The mouth of the tortoise has been carved open, although this effect has been achieved with a small area of ivory at the front of the mouth left between the jaws. The resulting perforation has been used to attach the Pitt Rivers Museum Label. [LKG 09/07/2009]
Geographical reference: Sudan, Republic of
Africa > Northern Africa > Sudan, Republic of; Western Sudan Darfur al-Junaynah
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 Ivory Tooth, Material Pigment, Material Bead, Process Perforated, Process Carved, Process Painted, Process Perforated
Dimensions: Width: max 30 mm, Length 50 mm
Object numbers: Accession number: 1971.15.1326