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Pyramidal bell surmounted by feline head; spiral motifs on base.
Ceremonial bell with feline head
Courtesy of the Harn Museum of Art, Photography by Foad Seyed Mohammadi

Ceremonial bell with feline head

Maker Tiv Artist
Date19th-20th century
Place of originNigeria, Africa
MediumBronze
Dimensions7 in. (17.8 cm)
ClassificationsFurnishings and Equipment
Credit LineGift of Drs. John and Nicole Dintenfass
Object number2016.86.25
Collections
Visual DescriptionPyramidal bell surmounted by feline head; spiral motifs on base.
Stone mace head, half is spherical with cylindrical hole from top to bottom other half carved to resemble feline head with small ears, broad nose, open toothed mouth, large eyes on side; features formed by drilling, either partially or completely into stone - through ears and mouth, depressions for eyes and nostrils
Chorotegan Artist
100-300
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Fon Artist
19th Century
Bell with flaring square cross-section, with face, geometric designs, and loop.
Edo Artist
undated
A trapezoidal metal bell with a looped top handle. The front is decorated with raised semicircles and a small central relief of a face with outward-radiating lines. The flared base shows traces of green oxidation.
Edo Artist
undated
Carved wooden shaft with faceted bulb and wrapped with copper strips; fitted with iron spear head, opposite end fitted with forged iron bell and iron ring.
Congolese Artist (Democratic Republic of Congo)
pre-1953
Dark brown feline whistle with incised lines.
Costa Rican Artist
850-1522
Cast bronze cross surrounded with openwork double "triumphal arch"  surmounted with smaller crosses and bird's head motifs.
Ethiopian Artist
14th-15th century
Forged curved blade with blunt end, and cast brass handle; cut out depiction of a chameleon on the inner curve, and cross cut-out in center of blade, with words engraved above: MK Balogu; Kent I of AL on one side and 23. 9 47 XX   MK Balogu AL on the opposite side. Engraved images of fish, serpents and possibly a frog, with borders of small circles. Edge of blade has rings, possible for attaching crotal bells (now missing).
Fon Artist
20th century
Central cross top and side arms surrounded with arcing band that sprout smaller crosses and loops. Attached to large pyramidal shaft.
Ethiopian Artist
12th-15th century
Jar in shape of a shell with rounded bottom curving to a flattened peak in center, walls rise with slight inward curve, angling steeply inward at two-thirds height to base of long tubular neck with flared rim, two small loop handles near bottom, attached spikey clubs on upper wall with small feline head attached in between; burnished light brown slip with dark brown pigment painted in zigzag around interior of rim, two large vertical panels of checker-board motif, placed in front of handles, bor…
Inca Artist
1450 - 1530
Iron staff surmounted by disk; two abstract heraldically configured birds; conical bells suspended from lower edge of disk.
Fon Artist
19th-20th century
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