SB.1.72
Snuff Box
Container / Snuffbox. Meru. Kenya. No 27. XI.H.1. Original list: "Meru. Snuffbox. Leather, copper, beads, aluminum, elephant ivory. Man, witchdoctor" Small carved ivory container, swollen half down and whose bottom end is cut into a button and has a small frieze surface engraved with entangled triangles. A leather cap at the top is linked to the container by a long brass chain. Perforations were made on the sides of the box to allow the addition of metal handles through which this chain passed. Pendants also adorn the sides of the container. These have red, white, green and yellow glass beads, then end with a small triangular aluminum plate with a pacifier. The chain also supports a small ring of small blue glass beads. Containers of this type, commonly called "snuff boxes" are very often hunting trophies and prestigious objects which may contain snuff, but also other substances (gunpowder, herbs or medicinal powders). "The tocacco leaf (...) is processed for snuff by being dried, crushed, and mixed with fat (and sometimes natron). Implemant for snuff-taking include special nose clips and small containers for carrying the snuff. (... The container of worn as ornaments and are treasured possesions. The value of this example is emphasized by the fact that is it made of ivory, which can be obtained only by extraordinary efforts. The hunter who killed an elephant was traditionally afforded honors, and the highly prized tusks were cut up to become bracelets, ear or lip ornaments, or snuff containers. As the ivory ages it develops a warm brown patina that is highly regarded, and owners cherish the small cracks and imperfections that develop over time "( EC Burt. Seattle Art Museum. 1985: 25). See "Very old Muthambi witch doctor" by J. Adamson (1967: 117)
Category: Snuff box
Material: Elephant ivory box. Leather cap. Ornaments: glass beads, aluminum. Brass chain. Iron wire.
Location: Kenya
Dimensions in Centimeters:
Length: 59
Width: 10
Height: 5
Other dim .: Object measured with its chain [item measured with chain] Full code list: W: 6 H: 9