1908.26.5

Collection type

Object

Description

Tall horn cup with concave sides flaring in to a pedestal foot with turned stem and flat underside; believed to neutralise poison [RTS 27/8/2004].

Long description

Cup carved from a single piece of rhinoceros horn and consisting of an everted rim, slightly flattened on the top, with walls flaring concavely in to form a tall body with sharp lower edge and flat underside on a slender, spool-shaped pedestal foot with a projecting bevelled flange halfway down its length, flaring out to a solid disc base with flat underside. The latter has a very lightly incised or scratched rosette design on its surface, with veined leaves radiating out from a central point. There are clear turning marks around the inside and outer walls, stem and base, and the interior may have been removed using a drill. The outer surfaces have been polished. The horn is a mottled translucent caramel and dark brown throughout (Pantone 465C and 7533C), and is complete and intact. The cup has a rim diameter of 92 mm, a mid-stem diameter of 27.5 mm, and a base diameter of 57.5 mm; it is 121 mm high and weighs 217.7 grams [RTS 27/8/2004].

Geographical reference

Sudan, Republic of

Africa > Northern Africa > Sudan, Republic of

[Blue Nile] [Upper Nile] Between Sobat River and Fazughli

Cultural groups

Burun

Person

Field collector Francis Reginald Wingate

PRM source Mrs H.K. Eden

Date / Period

Date made: Before 1908

Date collected

By 1908

Acquisition information

Donated: 1908

Materials and processes

Material Rhino Horn Animal, Process Turned, Process Drilled, Process Decorated, Process Incised, Process Polished

Dimensions

Diameter: max 92 mm rim, Diameter 57.5 mm base, Height 121 mm, Weight 217.7 g

Object numbers

Accession number: 1908.26.5

Research and responses

The area in which the Burun are said to be located covers both the Blue Nile and Upper Nile administrative districts.

For another Sudanese horn cup of simpler form, also said to neutralise poisons, see 1949.8.127 [RTS 27/8/2004].

Note that the measurements given in the amulet card are slightly inaccurate [RTS 27/8/2004].

Search terms: Vessel, Religion, Food and Drink, Medicine, Cup, Amulet, Medical Accessory, Food Accessory