Gameboard

Object Details

Zon, ca.1900-1985, Liberia

Dan artist

Label Text

Among the Dan, elaborately sculpted gameboards for playing ma kpon, a local version of mankala, the count and capture board game, are valued for their decoration. Such gameboards are usually decorated with incised geometric or representational designs on the long sides--the articulated sides and decorative detail on the top of the board are distinctive variations. Again typically at each end there is a handle, one of which may be carved in the form of a human or ram's head. The second handle is often a simple cup. This gameboard has a finely detailed human head that greatly resembles Dan masks and spoon finials. The artist has been identified on the basis of carving style as Zon. He has not just detailed the hairstyle but the elongated neck of the figure is not simply a cylinder, but displays decorative carving to represent "fat rings," that symbolize good health and feminine beauty.

Description

Wood rectangular two row gameboard with projecting head and cup, articulated sides and herringbone pattern on the forehead and between the game holes on top. The head has white metal teeth.

Provenance

Lucien P. Garo, Bethesda, Maryland, acquired from a village chief in Liberia, 1955 to 1994

Exhibition History

Gameboards, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., May 27-November 30, 1998

Content Statement

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Credit Line

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Lucien P. Garo

Mid-20th century

Object number

94-17-1

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Type

Sculpture

Medium

Wood, metal, pigment

Dimensions

H x W x D: 14.2 x 80.0 x 16.0 cm (5 9/16 x 31 1/2 x 6 5/16 in.)

Geography

Liberia

See more items in

National Museum of African Art Collection

Object Name

mankala

National Museum of African Art

Topic

male

Record ID

nmafa_94-17-1

Metadata Usage (text)

Usage conditions apply

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ys7cc22998d-d06c-4647-b9c0-355069707fb1