Object Details
- Unidentified artist
- Label Text
- While imitation gold jewelry is made of straw and plaster in Mali, imitation jewelry in Senegal is typically formed from golden tinsel. Like the straw and plaster versions, its honeyed hue is easily mistaken for the genuine article. In the necklace and earrings seen here, the realistic quality is further enhanced by the twinkle of the foil as it catches the sun’s rays.
- Description
- Crescent shaped earrings of gold-colored tinsel (mylar) coiled and wrapped around reddish iron wire. The gold thread is in a spiraled pattern that wraps around circumference at the bottom of the earrings, but tapers to a smaller point at the point of connection with the ears. One (A) earring is slightly bigger than the other (B), and "open" (A) instead of "closed" (B).
- 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, illustrated p. 85
- 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 Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks.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
- Mid-late 20th century
- Object number
- 2012-18-34
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Type
- Jewelry
- Medium
- Gold-colored tinsel (mylar), iron
- Dimensions
- H x W x D (A): 2.5 x 2.6 x 1.2 cm (1 x 1 x 1/2 in.)
- H x W x D (B): 2.4 x 2.5 x 1.2 cm (15/16 x 1 x 1/2 in.)
- Geography
- Senegal
- See more items in
- National Museum of African Art Collection
- National Museum of African Art
- Topic
- Adornment
- Female use
- crescent
- male
- spiral
- Record ID
- nmafa_2012-18-34
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ys7954d2b97-04a1-47f5-8b9b-3149569ad16a
