Bone tube with carved wooden head decorated with beads and two bells around neck.

Collection type: Object
Description: Bone tube with carved wooden head decorated with beads and two bells around neck.
Long description: Bone voice disguiser with incised geometrical patterns. Carved wooden head, with pubic hair. Eyes of blue and white pottery. Rings of coloured glass beads and two Abrus precatorius seeds imbedded in clay, round neck. Two cast brass pellet bells suspended on string round neck. Lower end surrounded with cloth covered with clay. The bone has a hole in the centre. [MJD 10/09/2013]
Geographical reference: Nigeria
Africa > Western Africa > Nigeria; Benue Wukari
Cultural groups: Tiv
Person: Field collector Wukari Native Administration; PRM source Wukari Native Administration; PRM source Henry Balfour
Date / Period: Date made: Before 1932
Date collected: By 1932
Acquisition information: Donated: 1932 Bequeathed: 1939, uncertain
Materials and processes: Material Animal Bone, Material Wood Plant, Material Brass Metal, Material Bead, Material String, Material Pottery, Material Abrus Precatorius Seed Plant, Process Carved, Process Decorated, Process Incised, Process Lost Wax Cast, Process Fire-Hardened
Dimensions: Length: max 216 mm
Object numbers: Accession number: 1932.18.15 Other numbers: Balfour 424 Other PRM accession number: 1938.34.424
Research and responses: Marla Berns, from UCLA, and Richard Fardon, from the University of London, examined this item on 20/6/2007. They identified that the eyes on the head are possibly made from Delftware. [AR 2/7/2007]
This voice disguiser was looked at by Dr Nicholas Marquez-Grant, lecturer in Forensic Anthropology at Cranfield University. His opinion is that the bone is not human. Metapodial groove present and square cross section - these are not present in human bones.

Search terms: Music, Religion, Figure, Musical Instrument, Voice Disguiser