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Female Caryatid Drum (Pinge)

Small woman seated on a pedestal with a large human-sized drum on her head.

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  • Small woman seated on a pedestal with a large human-sized drum on her head.

Date:

c. 1930-c. 1950

Artist:

Senufo
Côte d’Ivoire
Northern Africa and the Sahel

About this artwork

This drum representing a woman of rank balancing a load on her head celebrates women’s prominence in Senufo society, where they act as family founders and spiritual mediators and guardians. It is embellished with designs that allude to the knowledge and power of diviners. This particular drum may have been played by a woman during commemorative funerals for members of the influential all-female associations known as Sandogo and Tyekpa.

Status

On View, Gallery 137

Department

Arts of Africa

Culture

Senufo

Title

Female Caryatid Drum (Pinge)

Place

Côte d'Ivoire (Object made in)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

1930–1950

Medium

Wood, hide, and applied color

Dimensions

122.9 × 49.2 cm (48 3/8 × 19 3/8 in.)

Credit Line

Robert J. Hall, Herbert R. Molner Discretionary, Curator's Discretionary, and African and Amerindian Art Purchase funds; Arnold Crane, Mrs. Leonard Florsheim, O. Renard Goltra, Holly and David Ross, Departmental Acquisitions, Ada Turnbull Hertle, and Marian and Samuel Klasstorner endowments; through prior gifts of various donors

Reference Number

1990.137

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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