Heddle pulley

Object Details

Baule artist

Label Text

As used on a narrow-strip loom, this pulley was both functional and aesthetic. It eased the movements of the heddles in separating the warp threads to allow the shuttle carrying the weft thread to pass through. The pulley also called attention to the skills of the sculptor who carved it, advertising his availability to undertake commissions to carve other figurative art, such as masks.

Description

Wood heddle pulley with seperately carved elephant head superstructure, a low relief of a face mask inside the ear and horned animals in the ears and on the sides of the heddle pulley. Heddle pulley has a seed bobbin and an iron loop on the top of the elephant head.

Provenance

New York dealer, -- to mid-1960s

John A. Friede, New York, mid-1960s to 1986

Exhibition History

Elephant: The Animal and Its Ivory in African Culture, Fowler Museum of Cultural History, University of California, Los Angeles, September 25, 1992-June 1, 1993

Published References

Ross, Doran (ed). 1992. Elephant: The Animal and Its Ivory in African Culture. Los Angeles: Fowler Museum of Cultural History, University of California, p. 123, no. 6-13.

Content Statement

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Credit Line

Gift of Evelyn A.J. Hall and John A. Friede

Early to mid-20th century

Object number

86-9-2

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Type

Sculpture

Medium

Wood, iron, seed, pigment

Dimensions

H x W x D: 11.2 x 5.9 x 11.5 cm (4 7/16 x 2 5/16 x 4 1/2 in.)

Geography

Côte d'Ivoire

See more items in

National Museum of African Art Collection

National Museum of African Art

Topic

elephant

antelope

Weaving

male

mask

Record ID

nmafa_86-9-2

Metadata Usage (text)

Usage conditions apply

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ys7c0fae6c2-19cc-4d82-aa62-5dff80c22a83