Neck ring

Object Details

Bulu artist

Label Text

Cast metal neck rings were made and used by a number of groups, including the Bulu and the Fang of Cameroon and Gabon, from the equatorial forest region. A sign of marriage, they were worn in pairs by women and were never removed. Made of a large amount of valuable copper alloy, they represent a conspicuous display of stored wealth.

Description

C-shaped copper alloy neck ring with two horizontal flanges.

Provenance

Jacob A. Reis, DD, and Eleanor N. Reis, RN, collected near Bafia mission station, Cameroon, 1908-1948

Province and Eleanor Reis Henry, Vienna, Virginia, -- to 1984

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Credit Line

Gift from the collection of Jacob A. Reis, D.D., and Eleanor N. Reis, R.N.

Late 19th-early 20th century

Object number

84-17-5

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Type

Jewelry

Medium

Copper alloy

Dimensions

H x W x D: 4.1 x 14 x 14 cm (1 5/8 x 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 in.)

Geography

Cameroon

See more items in

National Museum of African Art Collection

National Museum of African Art

Topic

Adornment

Female use

male

Trade

Currency

Record ID

nmafa_84-17-5

Metadata Usage (text)

Usage conditions apply

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ys796a0f651-2625-46bc-a2aa-6b1060e0e207