Moru hair ornament
Other views of this artifact:
Accession Number:
1884.77.4
Country:
?Sudan
Cultural Group:
?Moru
Date Made:
?Before February 1863
Materials:
Iron Metal , Grass Fibre Plant
Process:
Hammered , Perforated , Twisted , Tied
Dimensions:
Largest disc L = 87.5 mm, W = 86.3 mm, Ht = 27 mm, Diam hole at apex = 6 mm; smallest disc Diam = 62 mm; diam cord = 3 mm [RTS 18/5/2004].
Weight:
150.5 g
Other Owners:
If the attribution to the Moru is correct, this object was most probably collected some time between November 1862 and February 1863, when Petherick passed through Moru territory in southern Sudan, en-route to Gondokoro. Material from this expedition was
Field Collector:
John Petherick
PRM Source:
Augustus Henry Lane Fox Pitt Rivers founding collection
Acquired:
Donated 1884
Collected Date:
November 1862 - February 1863?
Description:
Hair ornament made from four iron discs of different sizes, each cut from sheets and hammered into a roughly conical form with convex upper surface and concave hollow below, pierced roughly at the apex.
The largest disc is positioned at the top, then they are arranged in order of generally decreasing size.
The top disc has a plain outer edge, the next disc has a sharply serrated edge, the third disc a slightly serrated edge and the smallest, bottom disc, a gentler scalloped edge.
The discs are strung together through their perforations onto a cord made of twisted grass fibres, currently a light yellowish brown colour (Pantone 7510C).
This has been knotted on the underside, leaving one end loose, and again, just above the top disc, with the cord wound and tied loosely around itself a number of times.
Clear hammering marks are visible on the surface of the upper disc, in the shape of a series of concentric bands, each formed by a row of hammer strokes.
The ornament is complete and intact, although both ends of the cord are fraying, and the surface of the iron has started to rust and is no longer a pure, metallic gray colour (currently dark brown, Pantone black 4C).
The cord, stretched out to its current full length (with knots still in place) measures 315 mm, and has a diameter of 3 mm.
The top disc measures 87.5 by 86.3 mm, is 27 mm high and is less than 0.5 mm thick; the hole through its apex measures 6 mm across.
The second disc is slightly smaller than the third, which measures 75 by 72 mm; the bottom disc has a diameter of 62 mm.
The discs and cord have a combined weight of 150.5 grams.
This is probably one of the 'hair ornaments' described by Petherick as worn by the 'Moro' of Southern Sudan: "Small, circular iron skull plates, highly polished, are favourite ornaments with the men. They vary in size from two to three inches in diameter, and three or four are worn by each individual; slightly concave in form, they fit well to the head. The fastening being a bunch of hair protruding through a hole in the centre and knotted on the outside” (J. & K. Petherick, 1869, Travels in Central Africa and Explorations of the Western Nile Tributaries (Vols I, II). London, p. 277-8). If this is the case, the cord may be a later addition. See also 1884.77.54. If the attribution to the Moru is correct, this object was most probably collected some time between November 1862 and February 1863, when Petherick passed through Moru territory in southern Sudan, en-route to Gondokoro. In doing so, he visited the villages of Moro, Wayo (misnamed Neambara or Neangara), Argatili, Moraro, Mizwa, Andibora, Jamba and Mari (J. & K. Petherick, 1869, Travels in Central Africa and Explorations of the Western Nile Tributaries (Vols I, II). London, pp 262-302). Material from this expedition was shipped back to England in 1865, when some of it was sold to the Royal United Services Institution. Pitt Rivers probably acquired this object at that time. He subsequently sent it to the Bethnal Green Museum for display, probably in 1874, and then the South Kensington Museum; it was transferred from there in 1884 to become part of the founding collection of the Pitt Rivers Museum.
Rachael Sparks 6/9/2005.
This is probably one of the 'hair ornaments' described by Petherick as worn by the 'Moro' of Southern Sudan: "Small, circular iron skull plates, highly polished, are favourite ornaments with the men. They vary in size from two to three inches in diameter, and three or four are worn by each individual; slightly concave in form, they fit well to the head. The fastening being a bunch of hair protruding through a hole in the centre and knotted on the outside” (J. & K. Petherick, 1869, Travels in Central Africa and Explorations of the Western Nile Tributaries (Vols I, II). London, p. 277-8). If this is the case, the cord may be a later addition. See also 1884.77.54. If the attribution to the Moru is correct, this object was most probably collected some time between November 1862 and February 1863, when Petherick passed through Moru territory in southern Sudan, en-route to Gondokoro. In doing so, he visited the villages of Moro, Wayo (misnamed Neambara or Neangara), Argatili, Moraro, Mizwa, Andibora, Jamba and Mari (J. & K. Petherick, 1869, Travels in Central Africa and Explorations of the Western Nile Tributaries (Vols I, II). London, pp 262-302). Material from this expedition was shipped back to England in 1865, when some of it was sold to the Royal United Services Institution. Pitt Rivers probably acquired this object at that time. He subsequently sent it to the Bethnal Green Museum for display, probably in 1874, and then the South Kensington Museum; it was transferred from there in 1884 to become part of the founding collection of the Pitt Rivers Museum.
Rachael Sparks 6/9/2005.
Primary Documentation:
Accession Book IV entry
[p.
170]
-
1884.77 PERSONAL ORNAMENTS, PENDANTS.
[insert] 4 [end insert] - Jingling pendant of 4 hollowed iron plates (2 are serrated discs).
AFRICA.
(1540 black).
Black book entry [p. 62] - 1540. [insert] 1884.77.4 [end insert]. Hair ornament, iron, C[entral] Africa. Obt[aine]d by Petherick.
Delivery Catalogue II entry [p. 270] - [insert] 1884.77.4 [end insert] Iron boss with cord. Africa. 1540. Case 8, [screen?] 325.
Old Pitt Rivers Museum label - Jingling pendant composed of 4 iron plates. AFRICA. P.R. coll (black 1540) [rectangular metal-edged tag, tied to object; RTS 13/5/2004].
Black book entry [p. 62] - 1540. [insert] 1884.77.4 [end insert]. Hair ornament, iron, C[entral] Africa. Obt[aine]d by Petherick.
Delivery Catalogue II entry [p. 270] - [insert] 1884.77.4 [end insert] Iron boss with cord. Africa. 1540. Case 8, [screen?] 325.
Old Pitt Rivers Museum label - Jingling pendant composed of 4 iron plates. AFRICA. P.R. coll (black 1540) [rectangular metal-edged tag, tied to object; RTS 13/5/2004].
Display History:
Displayed in Bethnal Green and South Kensington Museums (V&A) [AP].
