Fly Whisk
- Artist Culture
- Baule artist
- Date
- early–mid- 20th century
- Material
- Gilded wood, horsehair, cloth
- possibly associated with
- Dimbokro department, Western Africa and the Guinea Coast, Côte d'Ivoire, Africa
Yamoussoukro autonomous district, Western Africa and the Guinea Coast, Côte d'Ivoire, Africa
Bouaké department, Western Africa and the Guinea Coast, Côte d'Ivoire, Africa - Classification
- Jewelry & personal accessories
- Current Location
- On View, Gallery 117
- Dimensions
- handle only: 9 7/16 in. (24 cm)
total length: 43 in. (109.2 cm) - Credit Line
- Gift of The May Department Stores Company
- Rights
- Contact Us
- Object Number
- 74:1966
NOTES
“Gold gives force… Gold brings strength, but also calm…”
– Kangah Nguessan, 1993
Both the gold material and the elephant crowning the handle of this whisk suggest the qualities of strength, stability, and temperance required of a strong leader. A fly whisk is one of the principal chiefly emblems belonging to leader of a Baule community. Gold objects, along with other emblems such as stools or chairs, are strongly associated with ancestors. Leaders derive the authority to rule and guidance to do so thoughtfully and successfully from the ancestors.
Provenance
- 1966
The May Department Stores Company, St. Louis, MO, USA
1966 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, given by The May Department Stores Company [1]
Notes:
[1] A letter dated January 28, 1966 from Charles E. Buckley, director of the City Art Museum, to Morton D. May acknowledges the gift of this object as part of a larger donation [Director's Office, Donor Correspondence, Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum]. Minutes of the Administrative Board of Control and Associate Members of the Board of the City Art Museum, January 27, 1966.
The May Department Stores Company, St. Louis, MO, USA
1966 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, given by The May Department Stores Company [1]
Notes:
[1] A letter dated January 28, 1966 from Charles E. Buckley, director of the City Art Museum, to Morton D. May acknowledges the gift of this object as part of a larger donation [Director's Office, Donor Correspondence, Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum]. Minutes of the Administrative Board of Control and Associate Members of the Board of the City Art Museum, January 27, 1966.