Accession Number
1987/1.270

Title
Ceremonial Chewing Stick

Artist(s)

Object Creation Date
1900-1925

Medium & Support
wood

Dimensions
21 5/8 in x 1 3/16 in x 1 3/16 in (54.93 cm x 3.02 cm x 3.02 cm);21 5/8 in x 1 3/16 in x 1 3/16 in (54.93 cm x 3.02 cm x 3.02 cm)

Credit Line
Museum Purchase made possible by the Friends of the Museum of Art

Label copy
March 28, 2009
Beautifully carved chewing sticks were important objects of display in Fante girls’ puberty rites. In one phase of the ceremony, initiates marched in front of onlookers with one end of the stick in their mouths. Girls received sticks as gifts from their parents or hopeful suitors, each with a different combination of symbols that referred to her transition to womanhood.
This stick shows six symbols—a fist, rifle, wisdom knot, powder keg, female figure, and canoe paddle—which are open to interpretation. For instance, the figure of a girl covering her breasts and genitals may symbolize her attainment of adulthood, since a girl’s puberty ceremony will be the last time she exposes her full body for public scrutiny. Alternatively, the figure’s gestures might reflect the influence of Christian missionary teachings about female sexual modesty and virtue.

Subject matter
A ceremonial rendering of an ordinary chewing stick used to clean teeth and gums; they were beautifully carved and important objects of display in Fante girls’ puberty rites. During the public phase of the ceremony, pubescent girls marched in front of onlookers, holding one end of the chewing stick in their mouths. Ceremonial chewing sticks are icongraphically rich. Each one bears a different combination of symbols that refers broadly to the initiate’s transition to womanhood.

Physical Description
This wood stick with dark smooth patina shows six registers or symbols carved into it, from top to bottom: closed fist; rifle; wisdom knot; powder keg; female figure with hands covering breasts and genitals; paddle.

Primary Object Classification
Wood and Woodcarving

Primary Object Type
carving

Collection Area
African

Rights
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Keywords
ceremonies
girls
initiations
puberty
women (female humans)