Object Details
- Tukulor artist
- Label Text
- The cross is a widely used form with numerous stylistic influences. The cross style of hair ornament is rumored to have originated from a late 18th-century pendant made for the wife of a Bamana king. Its form, however, also shows similarities to both the Coptic cross and the designs of nomadic Tuareg artisans, whose travel on Saharan trade routes along with salt, gold, and camels connected eastern, northern, and western Africa. When small ornaments in the shape of a cross (san u sébé) are worn in the hair, they are called trefle or argane, although some women prefer to wear them as pendants.
- Description
- Gold-plated silver alloy, hollow, three armed cross hair ornament with curved and granulated arms and central, applied X shaped elements. A central square pyramid projects and is decorated in circles of wire and granulation. The pyramid is flat on top. The top rectangular bar is decorated with a row of six rosettes and granulation, and has a hole pierced through it to allow for being attached to hair or a cord. Hammered flat back with three pierced holes.
- 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. 11
- 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 Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks.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-20th century
- Object number
- 2012-18-77
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Type
- Jewelry
- Medium
- Gold-plated silver alloy
- Dimensions
- H x W x D: 4.9 x 5.6 x 1.2 cm (1 15/16 x 2 3/16 x 1/2 in.)
- Geography
- Senegal
- See more items in
- National Museum of African Art Collection
- Object Name
- Croix d’Agades (Cross of Agadez)
- pirloul
- trefle
- argane
- National Museum of African Art
- Topic
- Adornment
- Female use
- cross
- male
- Record ID
- nmafa_2012-18-77
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ys71faaa501-b48b-4ac7-b8f9-11830a1bf9d9
