Pendant

Object Details

Unidentified artist

Label Text

Originally subordinate to a larger central pendant, this beautiful filigree piece is one of the oldest in the collection and demonstrates the earlier mixture of gold and silver known as urus sasel.

Description

Gold-plated silver alloy pendant of almond shaped undulating openwork filigree base, surmounted by a projecting flower and tiered rosette with globule. There are smaller rosettes at each point of the almond, and groups of three filigree leaves on the sides of the almond. Openwork triangular elements circumnavigate the pendant. Flower and rosettes are mounted on a hammered flat bar and disc of metal. Some of the gum arabic used to affix the top rosette to the bottom of the pendant is visible at the back of the pendant.

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

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 Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks.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

Early to mid-20th century

Object number

2012-18-54

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Type

Jewelry

Medium

Gold-plated silver alloy

Dimensions

H x W x D: 4 x 3.1 x 1.2 cm (1 9/16 x 1 1/4 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

male

Record ID

nmafa_2012-18-54

Metadata Usage (text)

Usage conditions apply

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ys7becc0315-d484-4cc7-b02a-1091f3911a44