Zande currency blade
Other views of this artifact:
Accession Number:
1930.86.54
Country:
Sudan
Region:
[Southern Sudan]
Cultural Group:
Zande
Date Made:
By 1930
Materials:
Iron Metal
Process:
Forged (Metal) , Hammered
Dimensions:
Total L = 590 mm, L tang = 122 mm, W tang = 24.3 mm, Th tang = 5.5 mm; W blade shoulder = 86.5 mm, W blade end = 159 mm; th blade = 2 to 3.5 mm [RTS 27/7/2004].
Weight:
approx. 1050 g
Other Owners:
Probably collected by Evans-Pritchard himself during his fieldwork amongst the Zande, which took place during 1927, part of 1928 and 1929 and for several months during 1930 [CM; RTS 6/7/2004]. Purchased from Edward Evans-Pritchard for the PRM by Henry Bal
Field Collector:
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
PRM Source:
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
Acquired:
Purchased 31 December 1930
Collected Date:
1927 - 1930
Description:
Iron currency token in the shape of a knife blade with blunt edges.
This consists of a short tang, pointed at the end then widening to a rectangular sectioned leaf shaped body with convex sides swelling out and then in again, where the tang joins the blade.
There is a slight ridge down the centre of the tang on both sides.
This junction of tang and blade is slightly swollen, suggesting that the tang may be a separate piece that has been forged into place.
The blade consists of short, angular concave shoulders that flare outwards, before turning in to the narrow elongated body with concave, blunt sides.
From here the blade splays out to form a broad, curved end.
This body section is rectangular in section, but the thickness is irregular and varies across its surface, which also shows clear hammering marks.
The knife is complete and intact, although of course lacks any kind of handle fixing; there are some surface flaws in the metal which probably date back to when the object was made, and the surface is beginning to rust slightly, now being a dark reddish gray colour (Pantone black 7C).
It has an approximate weight of 1050 grams, with a total length of 590 mm, and a tang length of 122 mm; the tang has a maximum width of 24.3 mm and thickness of 5.5 mm; the blade is 86.5 mm wide across the shoulders, and 159 mm wide across the tip of the blade end; thickness across the blade varies from 2 to 3.5 mm.
Collected by Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard during his fieldwork amongst the Zande, which took place during 1927, part of 1928 and 1929 and for several months during 1930.
This object was a ‘conventionalised’ knife blade, with blunt edges, used for paying bride prices. For a similar Zande currency blade, see 1934.8.131, which was collected at Yambio in 1933, and is called bananan in Zande. The University of Leeds also have a comparable blade in their Anthropology collections, equipped with handle, which is attributed to Sudan or the Democratic Republic of Congo (FL 1965.388, WHMM 53562).
Evans-Pritchard describes the custom of paying bridewealth to the father of a prospective bride in the form of spears; these are handed over at intervals after betrothal, which occurs when the girl is a child; at least ten spears would be considered normal before a marriage would take place. Marriage spears continue to be presented to the father as long as the marriage lasts (E.E. Evans-Pritchard, 1932, “The Azande”, in: C.G. and B.Z. Seligman, Pagan Tribes of the Nilotic Sudan, pp 511-513). Although this blade represents a different form of bride wealth, it would have been used in a similar way.
Currently on display in the Lower Gallery, case 77B.
Rachael Sparks 17/9/2005.
Collected by Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard during his fieldwork amongst the Zande, which took place during 1927, part of 1928 and 1929 and for several months during 1930.
This object was a ‘conventionalised’ knife blade, with blunt edges, used for paying bride prices. For a similar Zande currency blade, see 1934.8.131, which was collected at Yambio in 1933, and is called bananan in Zande. The University of Leeds also have a comparable blade in their Anthropology collections, equipped with handle, which is attributed to Sudan or the Democratic Republic of Congo (FL 1965.388, WHMM 53562).
Evans-Pritchard describes the custom of paying bridewealth to the father of a prospective bride in the form of spears; these are handed over at intervals after betrothal, which occurs when the girl is a child; at least ten spears would be considered normal before a marriage would take place. Marriage spears continue to be presented to the father as long as the marriage lasts (E.E. Evans-Pritchard, 1932, “The Azande”, in: C.G. and B.Z. Seligman, Pagan Tribes of the Nilotic Sudan, pp 511-513). Although this blade represents a different form of bride wealth, it would have been used in a similar way.
Currently on display in the Lower Gallery, case 77B.
Rachael Sparks 17/9/2005.
Primary Documentation:
Accession Book Entry
[BIV, p.
138] - 1930 [insert] 86 [end insert]
E.E.
EVANS PRITCHARD
31 Dec.
Specimens collected by himself in the EASTERN SUDAN, etc.
[...] [p.
139a, insert] 54-55 [end insert] - [1 of] 2 iron currency pieces, conventionalized knife blades with blunt edges, used for paying 'bride prices', AZANDE.
[Drawing] [...] [Base of p.
139, total of items 1930.86.1-65] - P[ai]d by cheque 31 Dec £
25-0-0
.
Added Accession Book Entry [page opposite 138] - 1930.86 See Related Documents File for letter from Henry Balfour to Evans-Pritchard concerning the purchase of this collection.
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the catalogue card [RTS 2/2/2004].
Related Documents File - This contains a letter from Balfour to Evans-Pritchard, dated 31 December 1930 that specifies the objects which he would like to purchase for the Pitt Rivers Museum, and suggests a price of £25, which was one quarter of his annual budget. The list matches the objects ultimately accessioned quite closely. This item appears on the list as one of "2 bride-price blades (Zande)" [RTS 17/5/2004].
Old Pitt Rivers Museum label - E. CENTRAL AFRICA, AZANDE (DERIVED FROM CONGO TRIBES). Currency-piece used for paying bride-price. Evans-Pritchard coll. Purch. 31.12.1930 [tag tied to object ; RTS 25/6/2004].
Added Accession Book Entry [page opposite 138] - 1930.86 See Related Documents File for letter from Henry Balfour to Evans-Pritchard concerning the purchase of this collection.
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the catalogue card [RTS 2/2/2004].
Related Documents File - This contains a letter from Balfour to Evans-Pritchard, dated 31 December 1930 that specifies the objects which he would like to purchase for the Pitt Rivers Museum, and suggests a price of £25, which was one quarter of his annual budget. The list matches the objects ultimately accessioned quite closely. This item appears on the list as one of "2 bride-price blades (Zande)" [RTS 17/5/2004].
Old Pitt Rivers Museum label - E. CENTRAL AFRICA, AZANDE (DERIVED FROM CONGO TRIBES). Currency-piece used for paying bride-price. Evans-Pritchard coll. Purch. 31.12.1930 [tag tied to object ; RTS 25/6/2004].
Display History:
Current display label - E.
CENTRAL AFRICA, AZANDE (DERIVED FROM CONGO TRIBES).
Currency-piece used for paying bride-price.
Evans-Pritchard coll.
Purch.
31.12.1930 [in case L.77.B; RTS 25/6/2004].
