Collection

Medicine man's bag, containing various gourds, horns, stones, rattle, knife, sticks etc., Congolese, 1880-1920

Made:
1880-1920

Woven fibre medicine man's bag, soft, with rounded base, cord handles woven into rim, containing various gourds, horns, stones, rattle, knife, sticks etc., Congolese, 1880-1920

Details

Category:
Ethnography and Folk Medicine
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A657302
Materials:
fibre, gourd, horn, stone, wood and metal
type:
medicine man's outfits
credit:
de Mery, D.

Parts

Plaited cane rattle, double ended, containers filled with seeds

Plaited cane rattle, double ended, containers filled with seeds

Medicine man's plaited cane rattle, double ended, two heads joined by central handle, like a dumbbell, open basketry, containers filled with seeds, good specimen

Materials:
cane and seeds
Object Number:
A657302 Pt1
type:
rattle
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Steel machette, wooden handle secured with cane twine, flat double cutting edge blade

Steel machette, wooden handle secured with cane twine, flat double cutting edge blade

Steel machette with wooden handle secured with cane twine, flat spatulate-type blade, double cutting edge

Materials:
steel , wood and cane, twine
Object Number:
A657302 Pt2
type:
machettes
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Five horns, two contain twigs and cloth

Five horns, two contain twigs and cloth

5 Small horns, conical, long pointed tips, two full of twigs, cloth etc., medicine, horns, brown

Materials:
horn, animal
Object Number:
A657302 Pt4
type:
amulet and horn
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Double gourd snuff box, fibre hanging loop

Double gourd snuff box, fibre hanging loop

Double gourd snuff box with fibre, loop for suspension, used by medicine man to hold materials other than snuff

Materials:
gourd and fibre
Object Number:
A657302 Pt5
type:
snuff boxes
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Double headed gourd snuff box, contains fibre, elephant hair etc.

Double headed gourd snuff box, contains fibre, elephant hair etc.

Double headed gourd snuff box, brown, filled with fibre, elephant hair etc., medicine, once used for snuff

Materials:
gourd , fibre and hair
Object Number:
A657302 Pt6
type:
snuff boxes
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Glass bead necklace threaded on plaited fibre

Glass bead necklace threaded on plaited fibre

Glass bead necklace threaded on plaited fibre, black and greenish-cream beads, loose ends

Materials:
beads, glass and fibre
Object Number:
A657302 Pt7
type:
necklace
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Incomplete string of beads, assumed from necklace

Incomplete string of beads, assumed from necklace

Incomplete string of beads, probably from a necklace, three strands of white beads joined in three places with a larger red beads

Materials:
beads, glass and fibre
Object Number:
A657302 Pt8
type:
necklace
Hinged gourd container, crocodile skin cord hanging loop

Hinged gourd container, crocodile skin cord hanging loop

Gourd container globular with peaked top, lid cut out of gourd with jagged edge, hinged with crocodile skin cord loop for suspension, brown

Materials:
gourd , skin, crocodile and cord
Object Number:
A657302 Pt9
type:
container
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Lump of copal resin, translucent gum from tropical trees, plus thirty smaller lumps

Lump of copal resin, translucent gum from tropical trees, plus thirty smaller lumps

Lump of copal resin, translucent gum from tropical trees, thirty smaller lumps also included

Materials:
copal
Object Number:
A657302 Pt10
type:
resin
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Wooden sticks, medicinal, five tightly bound bundles

Wooden sticks, medicinal, five tightly bound bundles

Bundles of five wooden sticks secured in tight formation by brass bands at either end, medicinal sticks

Materials:
wood and brass
Object Number:
A657302 Pt11
type:
sticks
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Four wooden sticks, hole near top for cord, one bound with copper coils

Four wooden sticks, hole near top for cord, one bound with copper coils

Four wooden sticks, cylindrical, perforated near top for insertion of cord, one bound with copper coils

Materials:
wood and copper
Object Number:
A657302 Pt12
type:
sticks
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
White glass bead bracelet on straw thong, bundle of three wooden sticks, coiled with brass, copper wire attached

White glass bead bracelet on straw thong, bundle of three wooden sticks, coiled with brass, copper wire attached

Glass bead (white) bracelet threaded on straw thong, small bundle of three wooden sticks coiled with brass and copper wire attached

Materials:
beads, glass , thong, straw , sticks, wood , coils, brass and coils, copper
Object Number:
A657302 Pt13
type:
bracelet - jewelry
Wooden peg with hole running through its length

Wooden peg with hole running through its length

Wooden peg with small hole running through its length, cylindrical, tapering to top

Materials:
wood
Object Number:
A657302 Pt14
type:
pegs
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Two dried fruits, both split open

Two dried fruits, both split open

Two dried fruits, resemble horse chestnuts, both split open, brown

Materials:
fruits
Object Number:
A657302 Pt15
type:
fruits
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Stone, porous, with indentation, white

Stone, porous, with indentation, white

White lump of stone, fairly porous, indentation

Materials:
stone
Object Number:
A657302 Pt16
type:
stones
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Amulet case, leather, coiled leather bracelet and canvas bag attached

Amulet case, leather, coiled leather bracelet and canvas bag attached

Leather amulet case, square, tooled design on front, coiled leather bracelet and canvas bag attached, brown

Materials:
leather and canvas
Object Number:
A657302 Pt17
type:
amulet case
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Iron Flintlock Sideplate with Spring Mechanism for attaching to side of Flintlock Firearm

Iron Flintlock Sideplate with Spring Mechanism for attaching to side of Flintlock Firearm

Iron flintlock sideplate with spring mechanism for attaching to side of flintlock firearm, rusted

Measurements:
overall: 137 mm x 37 mm x 26 mm,
Materials:
iron and metal (unknown)
Object Number:
A657302 Pt18
type:
antique firearm , component and spring
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Arrowhead, steel, hollow shaft

Arrowhead, steel, hollow shaft

Steel arrowhead, pointed tip, shaped like a whaling hook, with hollow shaft

Materials:
steel
Object Number:
A657302 Pt19
type:
arrowheads
Dried nut, honeycomb appearance, roughly ball shaped

Dried nut, honeycomb appearance, roughly ball shaped

Dried nut, honeycomb like fabric, roughly oval, grey

Materials:
nut
Object Number:
A657302 Pt20
type:
nuts
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Three bird's feet with curved pointed talons

Three bird's feet with curved pointed talons

Three small bird claws with curved pointed talons

Materials:
claw
Object Number:
A657302 Pt21
type:
animal claws
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Amuletic cloth bag full of medicine, fibre, grass, etc.

Amuletic cloth bag full of medicine, fibre, grass, etc.

Amuletic cloth bag full of medicine (fibre, grass, etc.) red cloth tied at neck with straw, shabby

Materials:
cloth and straw
Object Number:
A657302 Pt22
type:
bag - container and amulet
Cartridge case, brass, from Maxim gun

Cartridge case, brass, from Maxim gun

Brass cartridge case for a maxim gun, tubular, flanged base, hollow

Materials:
brass
Object Number:
A657302 Pt23
type:
cartridge case
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Dried leaf, folded longitudinally, very fragile

Dried leaf, folded longitudinally, very fragile

Dried leaf, folded longitudinally, pale beige, very fragile

Materials:
leaf
Object Number:
A657302 Pt24
type:
leaves
Bundle of dried grass and sandy dirt

Bundle of dried grass and sandy dirt

Bundle of dried grass interspersed with granules of sandy dirt

Materials:
grass and dirt
Object Number:
A657302 Pt25
type:
grass
Long hide thong tied into bundle

Long hide thong tied into bundle

Long hide thong tied into bundle

Materials:
hide
Object Number:
A657302 Pt26
type:
thongs
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Carved wooden peg, cylindrical with waisted centre

Carved wooden peg, cylindrical with waisted centre

Carved wooden peg resembling a duffle coat button, cylindrical with waisted centre

Materials:
wood
Object Number:
A657302 Pt27
type:
pegs
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Two identical pieces of animal bone

Two identical pieces of animal bone

Two identical pieces of animal bone, resembles a cattles head with large horns

Materials:
bone
Object Number:
A657302 Pt28
type:
amulet
Two leather amulet cases

Two leather amulet cases

Two leather amulet cases, attached to twisted leather bracelet, decorated with blue and yellow glass beads

Materials:
leather and beads, glass
Object Number:
A657302 Pt29
type:
amulet case
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Canvas bag, contains dried fruits, old beads, fragments of stones, shells, wood, metal, sand, etc.

Canvas bag, contains dried fruits, old beads, fragments of stones, shells, wood, metal, sand, etc.

Canvas bag, stitched along seams, resembles a small mail bag, contains various dried fruits, old beads, fragments of stones, shells, wood, metal, sand, etc.

Materials:
canvas , nuts , beads , stone , shell , metal , sand and wood
Object Number:
A657302 Pt30
type:
amulet case
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Dakka smoking pipe, twisted antelope horn, fired clay bowl

Dakka smoking pipe, twisted antelope horn, fired clay bowl

Dakka smoking pipe consisting of twisted antelope's horn with hole near tip for insertion of bowl stem (missing), fired clay bowl, pot-shaped hole running through centre

Materials:
horn, antelope and clay, fired, bowl
Object Number:
A657302 Pt31
type:
smoking pipes
Medicine man's bag, Congolese, 1880-1920

Medicine man's bag, Congolese, 1880-1920

Woven fibre medicine man's bag, soft, with rounded base, cord handles woven into rim, for various gourds, horns, stones, rattle, knife, sticks etc., Congolese, 1880-1920

Materials:
fibre
Object Number:
A657302 Pt32
type:
medicine pouch
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

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