Object Details
- Label Text
- Bracelets were essential to a woman’s collection, and a simple version was often a Wolof woman’s first acquisition. Like necklaces and earrings, bracelets come in a wide variety of inventive styles, from the braided and twisted designs, which required the female client’s presence to designate the tightness of the twist, to delicate, European-inspired flowers, to Islamic-inspired half-moon bracelets.
- Though this bracelet is inspired by the Islamic half moon motif, it has no direct religious affiliation but was likely chosen for its monumental qualities and three-part composition. Granulation, applying tiny balls of metal to metal sheets, filigree, a delicate jewelry technique that incorporates finely curving metal wires in a frame, and twisted wire techniques can all be observed in this piece.
- Description
- Two-piece hinged gilt copper (gold wash) bracelet in the shape of a hollow central crescent or half moon (Islamic) pendant flanked by projecting circular filigree half domes decorated with twisted wire half circles and circles. Small rosettes flank the central pendant at the corners and the half moon pendant is decorated with applied globules and twisted wire at the edges, and wire and twisted wire swirls. The rest of the bracelet is flattened metal with applied decorative elements, including four large and several smaller, twisted wire spirals, hollow X shape elements (some of which are missing), globules and rosettes at the back and sides. The inside of the bracelet is pierced, probably for ventilation during construction. Hinge pin closure, with chain. Chain has flattened disc attached to it.
- Provenance
- Marian Johnson, purchased in Dakar, Senegal, 1963-late 20th century to 2012
- Content Statement
- As part of our commitment to accessibility and transparency, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art is placing its collection records online. Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks. If you see content requiring immediate action, we will do our best to address it in a timely manner. Please email nmafacuratorial@si.edu if you have any questions.
- Image Requests
- High resolution digital images are not available for some objects. For publication quality photography and permissions, please contact the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives at https://africa.si.edu/research/eliot-elisofon-photographic-archives/
- Data Source
- National Museum of African Art
- Date
- Early to mid-20th century
- Credit Line
- Gift of Dr. Marian Ashby Johnson
- Medium
- Gilt copper (gold wash)
- Dimensions
- H x W x D: 7.2 x 7.9 x 1.3 cm (2 13/16 x 3 1/8 x 1/2 in.)
- Type
- Jewelry
