Armlet

Accession Number
2000/2.41

Title
Armlet

Artist(s)

Object Creation Date
circa 1890-1920

Medium & Support
brass

Dimensions
6 5/16 in x 3 5/16 in (16.03 cm x 8.41 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Dr. James and Vivian Curtis


Subject matter
This object is listed as made by Kirdi peoples; while most likely correct, it is not without issue. “Kirdi”, meaning pagan, was the label given to the various peoples from northern Cameroon, northeastern Nigeria, and southern Chad by neighboring Fulani and Kanuri peoples because they did not practice Islam, while the latter do. The people collectively known as “Kirdi” are actually many different cultural groups with their own customs. However, due to a lack of information on where exactly this object came from, it is not possible to say with certainty which group of people created it.

References Cited: 
Gebauer, Paul. 1979. Art of Cameroon. Portland, Or.: Portland Art Museum.
Lembezat, Bertrand. 1961. Les populations païennes du Nord-Cameroun et de l'Adamaoua. Paris: Presses Universitaires de France.
Lembezat, Bertrand. 1952. Mukulehe; un clan montagnard du Nord-Cameroun; coutumes, rites, croyances. Paris: Berger-Levrault.
Northern, Tamara. 1984. The Art of Cameroon. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution.
Page, Donna. 2007. A Cameroon World. New York: QCC Art Gallery Press.

Physical Description
Brass armlet with a central raised ridge. The top and bottom edge have a flat lip and are decorated with concentric arches in a scallop design, an undulating line and a series of diagonal lines.  

Primary Object Classification
Costume and Costume Accessories

Primary Object Type
armlet

Additional Object Classification(s)
Jewelry

Collection Area
African

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form. Keywords
armlets
ceremonial costume
costume accessories
social status
symbols of office or status
wealth
women (female humans)

& Author Notes

Web Use Permitted