Object Details
- Unidentified artist
- Label Text
- Bracelets and earrings of twisted gold are the most simple and plentiful forms of jewelry found in Senegal. And yet, there is a tremendous variety borne of its simplicity. Many Senegalese jewelers require their female clients’ presence while twisting and finishing a bracelet because a woman’s individual preference determines when the jeweler has twisted enough—thus, making the twist a matter of taste and dual creation.
- The gold content also has a bearing on the twist; the tighter the twists, the heavier and thicker the bracelet. Heavier bracelets are reserved for special occasions because they demand more of a jeweler’s time and indicate a high level of leisure and opulence. This bracelet is extremely heavy, with a solid core construction.
- Description
- C-form bracelet in twisted gold-plated copper alloy mesh of twisted and coiled wire. The ends are capped in hand-hammered spherical balls.
- Provenance
- Marian Johnson, purchased in Dakar, Senegal, 1963-late 20th century to 2012
- Exhibition History
- Good As Gold: Fashioning Senegalese Women, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., October 24, 2018-February 2, 2020; North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, September 16, 2020-January 3, 2021
- Published References
- Maples, Amanda, Ashby Johnson, Marian, and Dumouchelle, Kevin D., 2018, Good As Gold, Washington, D.C.: NMAfA, Smithsonian, p. 72, illustrated p. 73
- Content Statement
- As part of our commitment to accessibility and transparency, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art is placing its collection records online. Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks. If you see content requiring immediate action, we will do our best to address it in a timely manner. Please email nmafacuratorial@si.edu if you have any questions.
- Image Requests
- High resolution digital images are not available for some objects. For publication quality photography and permissions, please contact the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives at https://africa.si.edu/research/eliot-elisofon-photographic-archives/
- Credit Line
- Gift of Dr. Marian Ashby Johnson
- Object number
- 2012-18-147
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Type
- Jewelry
- Medium
- Gold-plated copper alloy
- Dimensions
- H x W x D: 7.4 x 9.3 x 1.3 cm (2 7/8 x 3 11/16 x 1/2 in.)
- Geography
- Senegal
- See more items in
- National Museum of African Art Collection
- Object Name
- torsade
- National Museum of African Art
- Topic
- Adornment
- Female use
- male
- Record ID
- nmafa_2012-18-147
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ys79a3fb97a-02b4-4b5c-8f44-f0ea3987b946
