Dinka Tuich headrest
Other views of this artifact:
Accession Number:
1979.20.88
Country:
Sudan
Region:
[Southern Sudan] Northern Bahr el Ghazal ?Dhangrial ?Wun Rog ?Mayen
Cultural Group:
Dinka Tuich
Date Made:
By 1979
Materials:
Wood Plant
Process:
Carved , Polished
Dimensions:
L = 585, Ht = 250, seat W = 56, th = 53, central leg W = 30.5, th = 29 mm [RTS 22/3/2005].
Weight:
>1000g
Other Owners:
Purchased by Patti Langton for £2, probably on 20th February 1979 as part of the British Institute in Eastern Africa's Expedition to the Southern Sudan [RTS 14/5/2004].
Field Collector:
Patti Langton
PRM Source:
Patti Langton
Acquired:
Purchased 1979
Collected Date:
20 February 1979?
Description:
Headrest carved from a single piece of yellowish brown wood (Pantone 7509C).
This is an example of 'found form', where a naturally occurring tree branch with subsidiary limbs coming off the main body to form feet has been chosen because its shape was particularly suited to the intended use.
This was shaped by trimming off excess foliage, removing the outer bark covering, cutting the legs to the same height and carving either end of the seat for decorative effect.
The result is a stylised form, usually designed to imitate an animal, but in this instance apparently anthropomorphic.
This consists of a horizontal seat that tapers to either end.
The front end of this has been carved to form a triangular head, cut flat across the top and with 3 short horizontal cuts running across the front that seem to form the features of a human face when seen in profile (nose, lips and chin?).
Behind this, the branch gradually widens, forming a long neck, with a raised rectangular bar across its base that forms a frame for the edge of the seat area.
This is rectangular, and although it has been largely cut flat across its upper surface it maintains a very slight convex curve across its width, and concave curve across its length.
There is a slight raised knob on the other end of this, then the branch becomes round in section again before ending in a rectangular knob, mirroring the dimensions of the carved head opposite but lacking any further carved features.
The underside of the seat retains the curve of the parent branch.
Three legs extend from this area, one each at front and back, both angled out on the same side, and a third leg splaying out in the opposite direction from closer to the centre.
They have all been cut along their bases, but irregularly, so that they tend to rest on the inside face of the foot in each case.
The centre foot in particular shows strong wear on its underside, indicating the headrest has been used.
The surface of the wood still shows numerous shaving and cut marks, but has also been polished.
The headrest is complete, with some flaws and knots in the wood, and the wood has begun to split along the seat, and up the legs from their bases.
It is quite heavy, weighing over 1000 grams, with a total length of 585 mm.
It has a maximum height of 250 mm; the seat is 56 mm wide and 53 mm thick, while the central leg has a diameter of 30.5 by 29 mm.
Purchased by Patti Langton on 20th February 1979 for £2, as part of the British Institute in East Africa's expedition to the southern Sudan. The place of collection was not specified, but would have been either Dhangrial, Wun Rog or Mayen, all of which like in the modern administrative district of Northern Bahr el Ghazal. For a map showing the distribution of Dinka Tuich groups, see J. Ryle, 1982, Warriors of the White Nile: The Dinka , p. 25.
This headrest has some similarities with 1979.20.86, although the latter is more sturdy. That example was used by men as a headrest and seat, and for sleeping on by old women.
Rachael Sparks 25/9/2005.
Purchased by Patti Langton on 20th February 1979 for £2, as part of the British Institute in East Africa's expedition to the southern Sudan. The place of collection was not specified, but would have been either Dhangrial, Wun Rog or Mayen, all of which like in the modern administrative district of Northern Bahr el Ghazal. For a map showing the distribution of Dinka Tuich groups, see J. Ryle, 1982, Warriors of the White Nile: The Dinka , p. 25.
This headrest has some similarities with 1979.20.86, although the latter is more sturdy. That example was used by men as a headrest and seat, and for sleeping on by old women.
Rachael Sparks 25/9/2005.
Primary Documentation:
Accession Book Entry
[p.
185] - 1979.20 (.1 - 206) P[urchase] MISS PATTI LANGTON, DEPT.
of ETHNOLOGY & PREHISTORY, OXFORD.
Collection made by Patti Langton during the British Institute in East Africa's expedition to the Southern Sudan; Jan.
- April 1979.
The collection was made in three culture areas during the dry season.
The amount paid for each object is listed if the information is known.
In Jan.
1979 £1 is equivalent to 95 piastres (pt.) Sudanese.
This documentation is based largely upon Patti's own list of objects and her notes on these.
Sometimes objects included in the Pitt Rivers alottment of the collection do not appear on her list and have been added here.
See Related Documents file as well.
[p.
191] 1979.20.43-135 SOUTHERN SUDAN the DINKA TUICH.
The Dinka Tuich, a pastoral people, live to the north of Wau, in Bahr el Ghazal province.
This collection was made mostly at Dhangrial, the archaeological site at which we camped.
Other artifacts were collected either at Wun Rog, a small town about a mile south of Dhangrial, or at Mayen, the new administrative centre 12 miles north.
This was a remote area, difficult of access and rarely visited by outsiders.
The Dinka are very aware of the potential of money, which is used either to help family members acquire education or entry into commerce and administration in Juba or Khartoum.
Once it was known we [insert] (the collectors) [end insert] were offering money, the Dinka in surrounding compounds came daily, increasing prices as often as they could! [p.
198] 1979.20.88 Wooden headrest similar to 1979.20.86.
Top L = 58 cm.; H = 18 cm.
Coll.
20.2.79; £2.
Additional Accession Book Entry [below accession number in red biro] - A5-F34-28.
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the catalogue card [RTS 03/03/2004].
Related Documents File - 1979.20 contains a typed packing list, which has been annotated; a typed list of objects arranged by Langton collection numbers and with pencil and biro annotations (this item is entered as '203. [no date given]. As 199 ['Wooden headrest']. £2'), and a handwritten list of objects by museum number, essentially repeating this information and annotated with PRM photo numbers in red. This handwritten list seems to be the direct source for the accession book entry [RTS 12/1/2004].
Pitt Rivers Museum label - S. SUDAN, DINKA TUICH, headrest, Pat Langton Coll., no. 203. 1979.20.88 [plastic tag with metal eyelet, tied to object; RTS 22/3/2005].
Written on object - S. SUDAN D[looks to be beginning of 'dinka', never finished] 1979.20.88 [RTS 22/3/2005].
Additional Accession Book Entry [below accession number in red biro] - A5-F34-28.
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the catalogue card [RTS 03/03/2004].
Related Documents File - 1979.20 contains a typed packing list, which has been annotated; a typed list of objects arranged by Langton collection numbers and with pencil and biro annotations (this item is entered as '203. [no date given]. As 199 ['Wooden headrest']. £2'), and a handwritten list of objects by museum number, essentially repeating this information and annotated with PRM photo numbers in red. This handwritten list seems to be the direct source for the accession book entry [RTS 12/1/2004].
Pitt Rivers Museum label - S. SUDAN, DINKA TUICH, headrest, Pat Langton Coll., no. 203. 1979.20.88 [plastic tag with metal eyelet, tied to object; RTS 22/3/2005].
Written on object - S. SUDAN D[looks to be beginning of 'dinka', never finished] 1979.20.88 [RTS 22/3/2005].
