Skip to Content
Closed now, next open tomorrow. Closed now, next open tomorrow.

  • Mon 11–5
  • Tue–Wed Closed
  • Thu 11–8
  • Fri–Sun 11–5
  • The first hour of every day, 10–11 a.m., is reserved for member-only viewing.

Diviner's Belt

A work made of leather, fur, gourd, shell, and wood.

Image actions

  • A work made of leather, fur, gourd, shell, and wood.

Date:

Early/mid–20th century

Artist:

Baule
Côte d’Ivoire
Coastal West Africa

About this artwork

This belt may have belonged to a diviner whose skills derived from a close relationship with a wilderness spirit. Special training allows diviners to work in concert with such spirits to reveal the sources of human illness and trouble. Wilderness spirits often ask the people they possess to have unique objects like this elaborate belt, or weapons [see 1999.380], made for them, to be displayed during a diviner’s public trance performances.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Arts of Africa

Culture

Baule

Title

Diviner's Belt

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.

1900–1975

Medium

Leather, fur, gourd, shell, and wood

Dimensions

21.6 × 85.1 × 16.5 cm (8 1/2 × 33 1/2 × 6 1/2 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of E. Carl Douglas and Family

Reference Number

2011.706

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.

Share

Sign up for our enewsletter to receive updates.
Learn more

Image actions

Share

Suggested Terms