Gourd container used for divination, Kenya, 1871-1900

Gourd container used for divination, Kenya, 1871-1900 Large gourd container, marrow shaped

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Large gourd container, marrow shaped
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Large gourd container, marrow shaped, opening plugged with paper, containing pebblestones used for divination, part of medicine man's equipment, Akikuya tribe, Kenya, 1870-1900

A large gourd (hollowed fruit) also known as a calabash, used for divination by the Akikuya people of Kenya. The flesh and seeds are removed from the fruit so it can be used as a bottle or dish. This gourd has been filled with pebbles and sealed closed.

Details

Category:
Ethnography and Folk Medicine
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A657252
Materials:
gourd and stopper, paper
Measurements:
overall: 125 mm x 485 mm x 120 mm, 1.214 kg
type:
gourd
credit:
Leakey, Louis Seymour Bazett