Nuer dance stick
Other views of this artifact:
Accession Number:
1931.66.11
Country:
Sudan
Region:
[Southern Sudan]
Cultural Group:
Nuer
Date Made:
By 1931
Materials:
Wood Plant
Process:
Carved , Polished , Decorated , Pyroengraved Pokerwork , Incised
Dimensions:
L = 1490, max W = 62, Max th = 29.3, diam shaft = 22.5 by 21.5, diam knob = 21.5 by 20; dimensions of grip opening = 68 by 24 mm [RTS 3/1/2005].
Weight:
554.6 g
Other Owners:
Collected by Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard either in the early part of 1930 (probably February to April), or between February and June of 1931 [CM; RTS 9/7/2004].
Field Collector:
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
PRM Source:
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
Acquired:
Donated December 1931
Collected Date:
1930 - 1931
Description:
Dance stick carved from a single piece of yellowish to reddish brown wood (Pantone 463C), consisting of a phallic slightly conical knob at one end, offset from a round sectioned shaft that widens and flattens at the centre to form an oval hand grip, with an oval section cut out of the middle.
One side of this is broader than the other; both have convex inside edges, and flat-cut faceted outside edges, with 3 flattened faces on the narrow side and 2 on the opposite part of the grip, meeting at a sharp angle on the outside edge.
The shaft narrows again below this area, tapering to a pointed end that has been cut at an angle.
The surface of the stick has been decorated with a series of incised lines, burnt into it using a heated metal tool.
From the knobbed end, this consists of a short spiralling line applied as a series of short overlapping strokes, then the body is decorated with groups of short horizontal dashes in columns, with gaps between each group.
There are 6 such groups on the upper part of the shaft, and a similar number of the lower part.
In between, the handle area is decorated with similar rows of parallel horizontal lines, but slightly longer to cover the available surfaces.
On the narrow part of the grip, these are arranged in 3 groups to cover each flat surface, while the broader part is covered with double rows with a very crude line partially between, partially cutting through these.
One of the rows is made of wider strokes than the other.
The surface has been polished.
The stick is complete, but the base appears slightly worn.
It has a weight of 554.6 grams, and is 1490 mm long, with a shaft measuring 22.5 by 21.5 mm across, and a handle grip with maximum width of 62 mm and a maximum thickness of 29.3 mm, and an opening that measures 68 by 24 mm across.
The knob end is 21.5 mm wide and 20 mm thick.
This form appears to have been derived from the shape of the Nuer parrying shield.
This object was collected by Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard during his first or second seasons of fieldwork amongst the Nuer, e.g.: in February to April 1930 or between February and June of 1931, in 'the dry season'. In the former, he spent around three and a half months in Leek territory at Yahnyang and Pakur on the Bahr el Ghazal, in Lou territory at Muot Dit, and at Adok, amongst the Dok Nuer. In the latter, he spent five and a half months at Nasir, on the Nyanding River, and at Yakwat on the Sobat River (see E.E. Evans-Pritchard, 1940, The Nuer , and the map of Evans-Pritchard's fieldwork in D.H. Johnson, "Evans-Pritchard, the Nuer, and the Sudan Political Service", African Affairs 81 no. 323, p. 233) (pers. comm. Chris Morton 2004).
Dance stick, of a form that is derived from wooden parrying shields. For similar dance sticks, see 1931.66.12-13.
Currently on display in the Upper Gallery, case 26A.
Rachael Sparks 18/9/2005.
This object was collected by Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard during his first or second seasons of fieldwork amongst the Nuer, e.g.: in February to April 1930 or between February and June of 1931, in 'the dry season'. In the former, he spent around three and a half months in Leek territory at Yahnyang and Pakur on the Bahr el Ghazal, in Lou territory at Muot Dit, and at Adok, amongst the Dok Nuer. In the latter, he spent five and a half months at Nasir, on the Nyanding River, and at Yakwat on the Sobat River (see E.E. Evans-Pritchard, 1940, The Nuer , and the map of Evans-Pritchard's fieldwork in D.H. Johnson, "Evans-Pritchard, the Nuer, and the Sudan Political Service", African Affairs 81 no. 323, p. 233) (pers. comm. Chris Morton 2004).
Dance stick, of a form that is derived from wooden parrying shields. For similar dance sticks, see 1931.66.12-13.
Currently on display in the Upper Gallery, case 26A.
Rachael Sparks 18/9/2005.
Primary Documentation:
Accession Book Entry
[IX, p.
16] 1931 [insert, in pencil] 66 [end insert]
E.
EVANS-PRITCHARD
, Esq.
Dec.
Specimens collected by himself in the EASTERN SUDAN, viz.
[insert, in pencil] 11-13 [end insert] - [One of] 3 Dance-sticks of a form clearly derived from a somewhat similar parrying-shield, with central carved out ‘knuckle-guard grip, & long tapering ends.
NUER (properly called NATH).
Additional Accession Book Entry [p. 15] - 1931.66.11-12 Nos given AP l[ength] = 1500 + 1510 mm.
Card Catalogue Entry [tribes] - information as in the accession book entry, with photograph number added in red: A21.F26.1-2. It is not clear which object corresponds to which image. [RTS 23/7/2004].
Old Pitt Rivers Museum label - Parrying-shield dance stick, NUER tribe, E. SUDAN. Pres. by E. Evans Pritchard, 1931 [paper label stuck to surface of object; RTS 13/1/2005].
Additional Accession Book Entry [p. 15] - 1931.66.11-12 Nos given AP l[ength] = 1500 + 1510 mm.
Card Catalogue Entry [tribes] - information as in the accession book entry, with photograph number added in red: A21.F26.1-2. It is not clear which object corresponds to which image. [RTS 23/7/2004].
Old Pitt Rivers Museum label - Parrying-shield dance stick, NUER tribe, E. SUDAN. Pres. by E. Evans Pritchard, 1931 [paper label stuck to surface of object; RTS 13/1/2005].
