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Ring Depicting a Chameleon

A work made of copper alloy.

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  • A work made of copper alloy.

Date:

19th/mid–20th century

Artist:

Senufo
Côte d’Ivoire or Burkina Faso
Northern Africa and the Sahel

About this artwork

Small cast copper-alloy ornaments are made across West Africa within the arc of the great Niger River. Brass or bronze casting has powerful associations with the supernatural because, like ironworking, it is a highly specialized process that uses fire to transform a raw material into a form that is useful and meaningful to humans. For the Senufo, copper-alloy ornaments are pleasing to the eye and offer protection by representing and honoring nature spirits. [See also 2007.600-01].

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Arts of Africa

Culture

Senufo

Title

Ring Depicting a Chameleon

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.

1800–1950

Medium

Copper alloy

Dimensions

4.1 × 3.3 × 2.9 cm (1 5/8 × 1 5/16 × 1 1/8 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Muriel Kallis Newman

Reference Number

2007.579

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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