- Collection type
- Object
- Description
- Decorated wooden dance stick in a form derived from a parrying shield, with oval hand grip at centre [RTS 13/1/2005]
- Long description
- Dance stick carved from a single piece of dark reddish brown wood (Pantone 476C), consisting of a phallic rounded knob offset from a narrow, round sectioned shaft that widens and flattens at the centre to form an ovoid hand grip, with a lentoid section cut out of the middle. On one side this handle area is narrow and has an ovoid section; the opposite part has 2 flat cut faces that meet at a sharp angle on the outside edge. The shaft narrows again on the other side, tapering to a pointed end that is pierced just above the base. The surface of the stick has been decorated with a series of incised lines, burnt in using a heated metal tool. The upper part has been decorated with a continuous groove that spirals down the body; this has been applied as a series of short strokes that merge in with one another. Just above the handle area this pattern changes to one made up of 4 broad bands, each defined by horizontal lines at top and bottom, and filled with vertical rows of short horizontal dashes. The grip area is similarly framed, and filled with longer strokes or horizontal hatching, then below there are 2 further bands with short filling lines, followed by another continous spiral that continues to the end. The perforated end has been slightly damaged, with some areas of the surface missing; the knob end appears somewhat worn. Otherwise the dance stick is complete, with a polished surface. It has a weight of 554.4 grams, and is 1512 mm long with a maximum width of 65 mm at the centre and a thickness there of 24.3 mm, while the grip opening measures 90 by 20.5 mm across. The shaft has a diameter of 24 by 23 mm, and the knob end measures 16 by 14.4 mm, while the small perforation at one end has a diameter of 4 mm. This form appears to have been derived from the shape of the Nuer parrying shield [RTS 14/1/2005].
- Geographical reference
- Cultural groups
- Nuer
- Date / Period
- Date made: Before 1931
- Date collected
- 1930 - 1931
- Acquisition information
- Donated: 1931
- Materials and processes
- Material Wood Plant, Process Carved, Process Polished, Process Perforated, Process Pyroengraved Pokerwork, Process Incised, Process Decorated
- Dimensions
- Depth: max 24.3 mm, Width: max 65 mm, Length 1512 mm, Weight 554.4 g
- Object numbers
- Accession number: 1931.66.12
- Research and responses
This object was probably collected during his first or second season of fieldwork amongst the Nuer, e.g.: in 1930 or 'the dry season' of 1931. In the former, he spent around three and a half months in Leek territory at Yahnyang and Pakur on the Bahr el Ghazal, in Lou territory at Muot Dit, and at Adok, amongst the Dok Nuer. In the latter, he spent five and a half months at Nasir, on the Nyanding River, and at Yakwat on the Sobat River (see E.E. Evans-Pritchard, 1940, The Nuer, and the map of Evans-Pritchard's fieldwork in D.H. Johnson, "Evans-Pritchard, the Nuer, and the Sudan Political Service", African Affairs 81 no. 323, p. 233) [RTS 2/3/2004].
Nath is what the Nuer call themselves [CM 13/7/2004].
For similar dance sticks, see 1931.66.11 and 1931.66.13.
Search terms: Dance, Weapon, Dance Accessory, Shield