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Gameboard

National Museum of African Art

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 Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks.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

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There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
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