Intersections: World Arts, Local Lives explores the roles that art plays in creating meaning and defining purpose for people across the globe. Art is not only a reflection of culture but can actively shape thought and experience. The objects on display have all intervened in the lives of those who made or used them—whether to educate, solve problems, assert leadership, assist in remembering, or provision loved ones in the afterlife. This exhibition offers a glimpse into the local histories and contexts of these objects and the stories and performances that surround them.
The objects featured in the exhibition are primarily from Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and the Americas and they range in date from the third millennium b.c.e. to the present. They were selected from the Fowler Museum’s extensive holdings of world arts on the basis of their exceptional artistic merit, as well as the many ways in which they conceptually intersect with each other. Major sections of the exhibition consider how arts from diverse cultures have served as vehicles of action, knowledge, power, and transformation.
While the aesthetic qualities of the objects and the contexts of their use have enabled these works to elicit wonder, impart wisdom, and tangibly affect the lives of people, it is important to remember that societies are not static. Encounters with other peoples and new ideas ensure that artistic traditions remain vital and relevant. Intersections presents enduring traditions while also bringing attention to the dynamism and brilliance of world arts as they respond to a constantly changing world.
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This section considers these ideas in relation to the objects and their makers. It celebrates the artists of these works as important cultural actors and demonstrates how artists from the societies represented were pioneers and explorers. Pushing the boundaries of the knowable world through their creations, they produced channels through which humans could mediate myriad relationships, both earthly and divine.
The Work of Art
The works in this exhibition are the products of artistic virtuosity and consummate skill. At the same time, they were created to fulfill specific purposes and roles in people’s lives. Their artistry and aesthetic presence were critical to their effectiveness. The outward appearance of an object—including its form and iconography—contributes to its ability to work, that is, its capacity to act. The beliefs and concepts that give objects power and meaning in turn dictate their aesthetic appearance. In other words, how art looks has much to do with how it works: form and function are closely intertwined.
Eharo mask
Elema peoples, Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea
Early 20th century
Barkcloth, plant fiber, wood, human hair, paint, feathers
X65.4344; Gift of the Wellcome Trust.
Object Name: Power figure (nkisi nkondi)
Artist: Unknown
Culture: Yombe peoples
Place of Origin: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Date/Era: 18th-19th century
Medium/Materials: Wood, metal, nails, mirrors, cloth, cordage, beads, cowrie shell
Dimensions: H: 114.3 cm
Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of the Wellcome Trust.
Accession Number: X65.5837
Object Name: Mask
Artist: Unknown
Place of Origin: New Caledonia, Melanesia
Date/Era: 19th century
Dimensions: H: 188.00 cm, W: 55.00 cm, D: 25.50 cm
Medium/Materials: Wood, barkcloth, human hair, feathers, bamboo, cotton thread, plant fiber
Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of the Wellcome Trust.
Accession Number: X65.7799
Object Name: Palace door-panels
Artist: Atelier of Areogun
Culture: Yoruba peoples
Place of Origin: Nigeria
Date/Era: Early to mid-20th century
Medium/Materials: Wood
Dimensions: H: 182 cm
Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Museum purchase.
Accession Number: X69.66AB
Object Name: Crown
Artist: José Rodriguez (b. 1956)
Place of Origin: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Culture: Yoruba peoples
Date/Era: 1997
Dimensions: W: 22.0 cm, D: 24.0 cm, H: 60.5 cm (W: 8.7 in, D: 9.4 in, H: 23.8 in)
Medium/Materials: Beads, thread, feathers, fabric, wood, shells
Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Museum purchase, Commissioned by the Fowler Museum.
Accession Number: X95.5.1
Head cloth (kain tangkuluak)
Minangkabau peoples
Pariangan, West Sumatra Province, Indonesia, 19th century
Silk, gold-wrapped thread, ramie
X97.50.57; Gift of Anne and John Summerfield
Not currently on View in Intersections
Minangkabau peoples
Padang Magek, West Sumatra Province, Indonesia
19th century
Silk, gold-wrapped thread
L: 267.0 cm, W: 84.5 cm (L: 105.1 in, W: 33.3 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Anne and John Summerfield. X97.50.69
Beauty and Purpose: Art That Works
Artistry and aesthetic excellence may infuse even the most ordinary of objects. The Fowler collections include many objects intended for domestic or daily use—ranging from vessels to implements and furniture—which nonetheless reflect a masterful conjoining of form with function.
Even the humblest of objects may be embellished and enhanced in ways that elevate everyday work and imbue it with special significance and value. While many of these may appear to be purely utilitarian, they often served a symbolic purpose far beyond that revealed at first glance. For example, a chair may be used for sitting but may also serve as an emblem of authority. Similarly, a headrest may be used as a pillow, while at the same time facilitating communication with the ancestors through dreams. An object may fulfill several roles at once and have multiple layers of meaning and significance.
Many of the objects in this section are presented in groupings to show how much can be gained by looking at variations within a single genre. In addition to singular, one-of-a-kind works of art, the Fowler collections have many objects in multiples, allowing us to appreciate individual artists’ innovations on particular object types.
The Versatile Gourd
The fruit of the gourd, one of Africa’s earliest cultivated plants, has long been employed for purposes ranging from the obvious to the ingenious. The hollowed-out shells of gourds are used for storage or for serving food and drink. Gourds may also be used to make musical instruments, smoking pipes, fishing floats, or ritual regalia. The bowls shown here are from northeastern Nigeria where distinctive designs can be identified with particular ethnic groups and even particular artists. Women decorate most gourds, and this is a primary means for them to express their creativity and technical mastery. When food is served in these beautifully ornamented bowls, it is said that the meal becomes “better to eat.”
Object Name: Bowl
Artist: Mairamu Kubo (active mid-20th century)
Cultural Group: Dera peoples
Place of Origin: Nigeria
Date: Circa 1970
Dimension: Gourd
Materials Used: L: 20.9 cm, D: 23.5 cm (L: 8.2 in, D: 9.3 in)
Credit Line and Assession Number: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Barbara Rubin-Hudson. X83.677
Bowl
Artist: Jumai Pitiri Gulcoss
Tera peoples
Nigeria
Circa 1970
Gourd
H: 11.5 cm, Diam: 24.0 cm (H: 4.5 in, Diam: 9.4 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Barbara Rubin-Hudson. X83.687
Bowl
Kanuri peoples
Nigeria
Circa 1970
Gourd
L: 11.2 in, D: 11.7 in (L: 4.4 in, D: 4.6 in)
Gift of Barbara Rubin-Hudson. X83.797
Bowl
Artist: Ndinuwa Jebre
Gaäanda peoples
Nigeria
1974
Gourd and charcoal
H: 12.2 cm, L: 24.5 cm, W: 17.5 cm (H: 4.8 in, L: 9.6 in, W: 6.9 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Bruce and Linda Friedman. X85.12
Bowl
Waja peoples
Nigeria
Circa 1980
Gourd and chalk
H: 23.6 cm, D: 24.6 cm (H: 9.3 in, D: 9.7 in)
Gift of Bruce and Linda Friedman. X85.51
Resting the Head
Because the head is frequently associated with spiritual power and the concentrated essence of a human being, the object on which it rests is often a revered art form. In East and Central Africa wooden supports are constructed to cradle the neck during sleep and to protect an elaborate coiffure, a key aspect of individual identity and status. Such supports can also serve as vehicles for bridging human and ancestral realms. From ancient to modern times East Asian peoples have made pillows from a wide variety of materials, including stone, clay, wood, grass, bamboo, rattan, and cloth. Through their form and decorative motifs, many of these provide clues to a group’s social and spiritual life. Among Pacific peoples elaborate headrests serve as prestige items elevating one’s position in society.
Headrest
Tonga or Fiji
Wood
19th-early 20th century
W: 47.0 cm, H: 16.0 cm, D: 14.5 cm (W: 18.5 in, H: 6.2 in, D: 5.7 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. The Jerome L. Joss Collection. X86.2409
Headrest
Tonga or Fiji
Wood and plant fiber
19th-early 20th century
W: 41.5 cm, H: 13.2 cm, D: 13.5 cm (W: 16.3 in, H: 5.1 in, D: 5.3 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. The Jerome L. Joss Collection. X86.2455
Headrest
Kenya
Rendille peoples
Wood and metal
19th- early 20th century
W: 36.2 cm, H: 22.2 cm, D: 19.0 cm (W: 14.2 in, H: 8.7 in, D: 7.4 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. The Jerome L. Joss Collection. X88.301
Headrest
Egypt
Old Kingdrom
Alabaster
2290-2155 B.C.E.
H: 22.5 cm, W: 21.6 cm (H: 8.8 in, W: 8.5 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. The Jerome L. Joss Collection. X90.428
Headrest
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Mbala or Teke peoples
Wood
19th-early 20th century
H: 16.8cm, W: 15.5 cm, D: 11.5 cm (H: 6.6 in, W: 6.1 in, D: 4.5 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. The Jerome L. Joss Collection. X91.325
Headrest
Kenya or Uganda
Pokot, Turkana, or Karamajong peoples
Leather, beads, wood, string
19th-early 20th century
H: 20 cm, W: 11.6 cm, D: 5 cm (H: 7.8 in, W: 4.5 in, D: 1.9 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. The Jerome L. Joss Collection. X91.59
Headrest
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Luba peoples
Wood and copper
19th century
H: 15.5 cm, W: 9.9 cm, D: 8.5 cm (H: 6.1 in, W: 3.8 in, D: 3.3 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. The Jerome L. Joss Collection. X91.60
Headrest
Cenderawasih Bay, West Papua (New Guinea), Indonesia
19th-early 20th century
Wood
H: 18.0 cm, W: 16.5 cm, D: 5.5 cm (H: 7.1 in, W: 6.5 in, D: 2.2 in)
The Jerome L. Joss Collection. X92.16
Sealed With a “Quid”
A slice of areca nut and a dab of slaked lime, rolled inside a betel leaf—these are the basic ingredients of the betel quid chewed by millions of people in Asia and the Pacific. Betel is a mild stimulant, activated by chewing these ingredients together. Its social meanings are myriad. It may be prepared by a lover, exchanged with in-laws to propose a marriage, extended in welcome to friends or enemies, or accepted as a sign of deference to authority. The care and the precious materials invested in making the beautiful implements used to prepare betel—including areca nut cutters, mortars, and lime spatulas—are testimony to the importance of all things sealed with a quid.
Lime spatula
Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea
19th-20th century
Wood and lime
L: 29.0 cm, W: 3.5 cm, D: .50 cm (L: 11.4 in, W: 1.3 in, D: .19 in)
Gift of the Wellcome Trust. X65.7769
Object Name: Lime spatula
Artist: Unknown
Place of Origin: Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea
Date: 19th-20th century
Dimensions: L: 28.00 cm, W: 8.00 cm, D: 1.50 cm
Materials Used: Wood
Credit Line and Accession Number: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of the Wellcome Trust. X65.7770
Lime spatula
Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea
19th-20th century
Wood
L: 34.5 cm, W: 3.0 cm (L: 13.5 in, W: 1.1 in)
Gift of the Wellcome Trust. X65.7774
Lime spatula
Trobirand Islands, Papua New Guinea
19th-20th century
Wood, cotton thread, shells, bead
L: 29.0 cm, W: 3.0 cm, D: 3.5 cm (L: 11.4 in, W: 1.2 in, D: 1.4 in)
Gift of the Wellcome Trust. X65.7775
Pestle for a betel mortar
Indonesia
Horn and iron
20th century
L: 25.0 cm, W: 3.5 cm, D: 5.0 cm (L: 9.8 in, W: 1.3 in, D: 1.9 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. Museum Purchase. X94.24.13
Areca nut cutter, dragon
Southern China
Steel, buffalo horn, rattan
19th-20th century
L: 16.5 cm, W: 10.0 cm, H: 3.0 cm (L: 6.4 in, W: 3.9 in, H: 1.1 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Samuel Eilenberg. X95.38.100
Object Name: Areca nut cutter (kacip) in the form of a stag
Artist: Unknown
Culture: Javanese peoples
Place of Origin: North Coast of Java, Indonesia
Date/Era: 19th to 20th century
Medium/Materials: Iron, silver
Dimensions: L: 27.6 cm, W: 13.0 cm, H: 2.8 cm (L: 10.8 in, W: 5.1 in, H: 1.1 in)
Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Samuel Eilenberg.
Accession Number: X95.38.155
Areca nut cutter, the warrior Arjuna
North Coast of Java, Indonesia
Iron and silver
19th-20th century
L: 29.0 cm, W: 8.5 cm, H: 1.3 cm (L: 11.4 in, W: 3.3 in, H: .51 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Samuel Eilenberg. X95.38.157
Object Name: Areca nut cutter (kacip) in the form of a mythical lion (singha)
Artist: Unknown
Culture: Balinese peoples
Place of Origin: Bali, Indonesia
Date/Era: 19th century
Medium/Materials: Iron, gold, quartz
Dimensions: L: 21.2 cm, W: 9.6 cm, H: 3.0 cm (L: 8.3 in, W: 3.7 in, H: 1.1 in)
Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Samuel Eilenberg.
Accession Number: X95.38.177
Object Name: Betel mortar
Artist: Unknown
Place of Origin: Lombok, Indonesia
Date: 19th-20th century
Dimensions: L: 16.50 cm, W: 3.20 cm, H: 3.70 cm
Materials Used: Horn, iron, brass, wood
Credit Line and Accession Number: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Samuel Eilenberg. X95.38.207a,b
Areca nut cutter, elephant
Bengal, India
Silver and glass
Early 20th century
L: 13.3 cm, W: 5.5 cm, H: .80 cm (L: 5.2 in, W: 2.1 in, H: .31 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Samuel Eilenberg. X95.38.36
Areca nut cutter, saluki hound
Golconda, Andhra Pradesh, India
Iron and brass
16th-17th century
L: 22.5 cm, W: 8.5 cm, H: 1.5 cm (L: 8.8 in, W: 3.3 in, H: .59 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Samuel Eilenberg. X95.38.57
Areca nut cutter, pair of lovers
Tamil Nadu, India
Brass
16th-17th century
L: 16.0 cm, W: 10.5 cm, H: 4.0 cm (L: 6.2 in, W: 4.1 in, H: 1.5 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Samuel Eilenberg. X95.38.75
Areca nut cutter, mythical creature
Kandy, Sri Lanka
Silvered brass
19th-20th century
L: 21.5 cm, W: 9.0 cm, H: 2.5 cm (L: 8.4 in, W: 3.5 in, H: .98 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Samuel Eilenberg. X95.38.93
Capturing Beauty
Japanese basket makers capture the beauty of carefully selected natural materials in their constructions. These materials are intended to harmonize with the meticulously arranged formal floral compositions (ikebana) that will be placed within the finished basket. In traditional-style Japanese houses, flower arrangements in baskets may be placed in a recessed alcove, called the tokonoma. This is a space that evolved from what was originally an altar, the sacred center of the home. The basket and floral arrangement are used as key elements in setting the emotional tone of the household.
Flower basket
Japan
19th-20th century
Bamboo, tree root, rattan
H: 45.5 cm, W: 29.0 cm, D: 27.0 cm (H: 17.9 in, W: 11.4 in, D: 10.6 in)
Gift of Nancy and Richard Bloch. X87.171
Flower basket
Hanakago
Japan
19th-20th century
Bamboo and rattan
H: 51.2 cm, W: 18.0 cm, D: 18.0 cm (H: 20.2 in, W: 7.1 in, D: 7.1 in)
Gift of Nancy and Richard Bloch. X87.172
Flower basket
Japan
Bamboo, plant fiber
19th-20th century
W: 24.0 cm, H: 38.0 cm, D: 22.0 cm (W: 9.4 in, H: 14.9 in, D: 8.6 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Nancy and Richard Bloch. X87.181
Flower basket
Japan
Bamboo, plant fiber
19th-20th century
W: 34.0 cm, H: 33.0 cm, D: 20.0 cm (W: 13.3 in, H: 12.9 in, D: 7.8 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Nancy and Richard Bloch. X87.189
Flower basket
Japan
Bamboo, plant fiber
19th-20th century
H: 38.0 cm, W: 37.0 cm, D: 30.0 cm (H: 14.9 in, W: 14.5 in, D: 11.8 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Nancy and Richard Bloch. X87.206
For Home and Hearth
Fowler collections are rich in domestic implements and household furnishings from around the world that reflect imaginative formal solutions to the design of otherwise functional objects. The various objects shown here from East and Central Africa, Borneo, and New Guinea reveal the love for beauty in daily routines. From kitchen hooks to trinket boxes, from baby carriers to chairs, these objects enhanced daily life and household chores through their elegance and meaning.
Container
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Mangbetu/Zande peoples
Late 19th-early 20th century
Wood, bark, plant fiber, string
Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of the Wellcome Trust. X65.5471a,b
Object Name: Chair
Artist: Unknown
Culture: Chokwe peoples
Place of Origin: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Date/Era: 19th century
Dimensions: H: 64.0 cm, W: 26.5 cm, D: 28.5 cm (H: 25.2 in, W: 10.4 in, D: 11.2 in)
Medium/Materials: Wood, leather, brass
Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of the Wellcome Trust.
Accession Number: X65.8514
Object Name: Baby carrier (ba’)
Artist: Unknown
Culture: Bahau Dayak peoples
Place of Origin: East Kalimantan [Borneo], Indonesia
Date/Era: Mid-20th century
Medium/Materials: Wood, shell, plant fiber
Dimensions: H: 31.2 cm, W: 44.3 cm, D: 15.0 cm (H: 12.2 in, W: 17.4 in, D: 5.9 in)
Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. The Jerome L. Joss Collection.
Accession Number: X85.1076
Object Name: Suspension hook
Artist: Unknown
Culture: Iatmul peoples
Place of Origin: East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea
Date/Era: 19th century
Medium/Materials: Wood, cowrie shell, plant fiber
Dimensions: H: 41 cm
Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA.
Accession Number: X87.375
Object Name: Chair of power (kiti cha enzi)
Artist: Unknown
Culture: Swahili peoples
Place of Origin: Zanzibar, Tanzania
Date/Era: 1989
Medium/Materials: Wood, ivory, string
Dimensions: H: 123.0 cm (H: 48.4 in)
Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Steve and Linda Nelson.
Accession Number: X89.367
Artistry in Clay
The potters of ancient Peru created works of extraordinary beauty and technical virtuosity. Little is known about how such elaborately formed ceramics functioned in ancient Peruvian life. Some may have been reserved for religious and ceremonial use associated with burials. In most instances, however, they probably served a variety of household functions. Their rich and varied iconography helps us understand something of their world and suggests the importance of the surrounding flora and fauna, as well as the secular and supernatural realms in which the vessels may have functioned.
North and south coast styles differ in form and surface qualities. In southern Peru the emphasis was on polychrome surface decoration, vessels with round bottoms, and the double spout and bridge shape. Mixtures of clay, mineral pigments, and water were used to produce the various slips that so masterfully colored the surfaces of south coast vessels. In northern Peru, the emphasis was on three-dimensional sculpture, ceramic vessels with flat bottoms, and the stirrup spout bottle form. Certain features typical of north coast ceramic traditions emerged as early as 1800 b.c.e. and continued for millennia.
Vessel, prisoner
Peru
Moche
Ceramic
100 – 800 C.E.
H: 25 cm, W: 12 cm, D: 12 cm (H: 9.84, W: 4.72 in, D: 4.72 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of the Wellcome Trust. X65.10968
Double spout and bridge bottle
Nasca/Chimu style
Peru
900-1430 C.E.
W: 16.0 cm, H: 17.5 cm, D: 16.0 cm (W: 6.3 in, H: 6.8 in, D: 6.3 in)
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Robert Kuhn. X72.52
Object Name: Effigy jar
Artist: Unknown
Culture: Early Nasca
Place of Origin: Peru, south coast
Date/Era: 100 B.C.E. – 600 C.E.
Dimensions: DIAM: 33.0 cm, H: 51.5 cm (DIAM: 12.9 in, H: 20.3 in)
Medium/Materials: Ceramic
Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert L. Lucas, Jr.
Accession Number: X86.2883
Stirrup spout bottle, portrait head
Peru
Moche
Ceramic
100-800 C.E.
H: 27.3 cm, W: 12.8 cm, D: 18.8 cm (H: 10.7 in, W: 5.0 in, D: 7.4 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert L. Lucas, Jr. X86.3700
Object Name: Double spout and bridge bottle
Artist: Unknown
Culture: Nasca
Place of Origin: Peru, south coast
Date/Era: 100 B.C.E. – 600 C.E.
Medium/Materials: Ceramic
Dimensions: W: 17.5 cm, H: 18.2 cm, D: 17.5 cm (W: 6.8 in, H: 7.1 in, D: 6.8 in)
Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert L. Lucas, Jr.
Accession Number: X86.3720
Object Name: Stirrup spout bottle
Artist: Unknown
Culture: Tembladera
Place of Origin: Peru
Date/Era: 1800 – 100 B.C.E.
Dimensions: H: 25.5 cm, W: 18.5 cm, D: 24.0 cm (H: 10.0 in, W: 7.3 in, D: 9.4 in)
Medium/Materials: Ceramic
Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert L. Lucas Jr.
Accession Number: X88.812
Object Name: Spout and bridge whistle bottle
Artist: Unknown
Culture: Lambayeque
Place of Origin: Peru, north coast
Date/Era: 900 – 1430 C.E.
Medium/Materials: Ceramic, organic black pigment
Dimensions: H: 19.8 cm, W: 13.5 cm, D: 27.0 cm (H: 7.8 in, W: 5.3 in, D: 10.6 in)
Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert L. Lucas, Jr.
Accession Number: X88.822
Object Name: Stirrup spout bottle
Artist: Unknown
Culture: Lambayeque
Place of Origin: Peru, north coast
Date/Era: 900 – 1430 C.E.
Medium/Materials: Ceramic
Dimensions: H: 21.9 cm, W: 12.0 cm, D: 17.0 cm (H: 8.6 in, W: 4.7 in, D: 6.6 in)
Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert L. Lucas, Jr.
Accession Number: X88.823
Object Name: Jar
Artist: Unknown
Culture: Recuay
Place of Origin: Peru
Date/Era: 100 B.C.E. – 600 C.E.
Medium/Materials: Ceramic, organic black pigment
Dimensions: H: 19.8 cm, W: 11.0 cm, D: 15.0 cm (H: 7.7 in, W: 4.3 in, D: 5.9 in)
Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert L. Lucas, Jr.
Accession Number: X88.843
Jar
Peru
Huari Empire
Ceramic
600-900 C.E.
H: 31.5 cm, DIAM: 64.5 cm (H: 12.4 in, DIAM: 25.3 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert L. Lucas, Jr. X90.22
Object Name: Jar
Artist: Unknown
Culture: Wari
Place of Origin: Peru
Date/Era: 600 – 900 C.E.
Medium/Materials: Ceramic
Dimensions: H: 21.4 cm, W: 16.6 cm, D: 11.2 cm (H: 8.4 in, W: 6.5 in, D: 4.4 in)
Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert L. Lucas, Jr.
Accession Number: X90.488
Stirrup spout bottle
Moche style
Peru
Ceramic
100-800 C.E.
H: 29.0 cm, W: 18.0 cm, D: 16.0 cm (H: 11.4 in, W: 7.1 in, D: 6.3 in)
Gift of Helen and Dr. Robert Kuhn in honor of Dr. Christopher Donnan. X91.146
Object Name: Stirrup spout bottle
Artist: Unknown
Culture: Moche
Place of Origin: Peru, north coast
Date/Era: 100 – 800 C.E.
Medium/Materials: Ceramic
Dimensions: H: 24.9 cm, W: 18.5 cm, D: 22.0 cm (H: 9.8 in, W: 7.2 in, D: 8.6 in)
Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Franklin D. and Judith H. Murphy.
Accession Number: X96.8.62
The compelling visual art forms presented in this section of the exhibition are bearers of knowledge, intended to encode, protect, or communicate particular types of information. Such objects have long been used to evoke proverbial wisdom, impart esoteric teachings, celebrate family genealogies, or express moral values. In contexts such as these, art functions like language, sending messages and safeguarding intellectual heritage.
The motifs found on archaeological objects, for example, can teach us about the practices and lives of peoples who left no written records. Memory devices are designed to assist their owners with the recollection of people, events, and sacred places. Styles of dress and adornment convey aspects of personal and cultural identity. Whether worn, carried, displayed, buried, or performed, these works of art play critical roles in the perpetuation of traditions and teachings from generation to generation, teacher to student, performer to audience.
The Moche: Painting History
The Moche peoples of ancient Peru (100–800 c.e.) portrayed complex scenes on fineline painted vessels, depicting everything from hunting and fishing to the ritual battles of supernaturals. These were rendered with such a high degree of realism that researchers have been able to establish correlations between the painted scenes and the actual environment in which Moche artists lived. Even when stylized, clothing, ornaments, and implements represented in the paintings are remarkably accurate depictions of equivalent objects that have been recovered from archaeological excavations. Since the Moche did not leave a writing system, these ceramic works are critical to reconstructing Moche civilization.
Stirrup spout bottle
Moche style
North coast, Peru
100-800 C.E.
Ceramic
L: 14.0 cm, H: 23.0 cm, D: 13.5 cm (L: 5.5 in, H: 9.1 in, D: 5.3 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert L. Lucas, Jr. X86.3807
Stirrup spout bottle
Moche style
North coast, Peru
100-800 C.E.
W: 14.5 cm, H: 20.2 cm, D: 14.0 cm (W: 5.7 in, H: 7.9 in, D: 5.5 in)
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert L. Lucas, Jr. X86.3854
Stirrup spout bottle
Moche style
North coast, Peru
100-800 C.E.
W: 16.0 cm, H: 30.2 cm, D: 16.0 cm (W: 6.3 in, H: 11.9 in, D: 6.3 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert L. Lucas Jr. X86.3934
Object Name: Stirrup spout bottle
Artist: Unknown
Culture: Moche
Place of Origin: Peru, north coast
Date/Era: 100 – 800 C.E.
Medium/Materials: Ceramic
Dimensions: H: 26.6 cm, W: 15.0 cm, D: 14.6 cm (H: 10.5 in, W: 5.9 in, D: 5.7 in)
Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert L. Lucas, Jr.
Accession Number: X88.800
Memory and Cosmology
Peoples throughout the world have devised complex and useful visual systems for recording and transmitting their traditions and beliefs. Each of the objects in this group played a part in activating memory or cosmology for critically important social situations and for ensuring cultural continuity. Among the Maya, for example, hieroglyphic writing was merged with visual imagery to communicate important dynastic information. In other cultures, systems of graphic inscription were developed for many purposes, including the transmission of calendrical and cosmological knowledge for divination or forecasting events. Additionally, motifs on many works of art serve to recall stories for retelling in the present through oral narratives and performances that keep traditions alive.
Ceremonial house painting
Wom, Lower Sepik River, Papua New Guinea
Circa 1963
Sago palm spathe, pigment, plant fiber
Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Dr. and Mrs. George Kennedy. X63.671
Miniature mask
Sepik River, Papua New Guinea
19th-early 20th century
Wood, pigment, shell, plant fiber, seeds
X65.4375, Gift of the Wellcome Trust
Ceremonial house board
Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea
19th-20th century
Wood, pigment
X65.5296; Gift of the Wellcome Trust
Calendrical/divination devices
Batak peoples, Sumatra, Indonesia
19th-early 20th century
Bone, pigment
X65.5664, Gift of the Wellcome Trust
Bow stand
Luba peoples
Katanga, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Mid to late 19th century
Wood
H: 73.5 cm, W: 19.0 cm, D: 11.0 cm (H: 28.9 in, W: 7.4 in, D: 4.3 in)
Gift of the Wellcome Trust. X65.7489
Object Name: Miniature mask
Artist: Unknown
Place of Origin: Sepik River, Papua New Guinea
Date: 19th-early 20th century
Dimensions: H: 13.50 cm, W: 5.50 cm, D: 4.00 cm
Materials Used: Wood
Credit Line and Accession Number: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of the Wellcome Trust. X65.7779
Object Name: Miniature mask
Artist: Unknown
Place of Origin: Sepik River, Papua New Guinea
Date: 19th-early 20th century
Dimensions: H: 13.50 cm, W: 6.50 cm, D: 4.00 cm
Materials Used: Wood, seeds
Credit Line and Accession Number: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of the Wellcome Trust. X65.7781
Calendrical/divination device
Batak peoples
Sumatra, Indonesia
19th-early 20th century
Bone and pigment
L: 37.5 cm, W: 4.5 cm, H: 5.0 cm (L: 14.7 in, W: 1.7 in, H: 1.9 in)
Gift of the Wellcome Trust. X65.8018
Bark painting
Artist: Dawidi
Arnhem Land, Northern Australia
1960’s
Bark and pigment
H: 94.0 cm, W: 46.0 cm, D: 7.5 cm (H: 37.0 in, W: 18.1 in, D: 2.9 in)
Museum purchase. X67.7
Divination Tray
Nigeria
Yoruba peoples
Wood
19th century
D: 38 cm (D: 14.9 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of the Ralph B. Lloyd Foundation. X70.646
Object Name: Drum (ntan)
Artist: Osei Bonsu (1900-1977)
Culture: Asante peoples
Place of Origin: Kumasi, Ghana
Date/Era: Circa 1935
Medium/Materials: Wood, pigment, hide
Dimensions: H: 111.7 cm (H: 43.9 in)
Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Dr. Donald Suggs.
Accession Number: X78.136
Object Name: Divination device
Artist: Unknown
Place of Origin: Tibet
Date: Late 19th century
Dimensions: H: 30.50 cm, W: 27.50 cm, D: 2.00 cm
Materials Used: Copper
Credit Line and Accession Number: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Koshler. X81.24
Calendrical/divination device
Batak peoples
Sumatra, Indonesia
19th-early 20th century
Bone and pigment
L: 37.0 cm, W: 4.5 cm, D: 5.0 cm (L: 14.6 in, W: 1.7 in, D: 1.9 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. The Jerome L. Joss Collection. X91.616
Ceramic vessel
Maya
Yucatan, Mexico
Classic Period, 250-900 C.E.
Ceramic
H: 16.0 cm, Diam: 16.2 cm (H: 6.3 in, Diam: 6.4 in)
Anonymous gift. X91.632
Object Name: Pot lid
Artist: Unknown
Cultural Group: Woyo peoples
Place of Origin: Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola
Date: Late 19th-early 20th century
Dimensions: H: 5.60 cm, DIAM: 17.80 cm
Materials Used: Wood
Credit Line and Accession Number: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Museum Purchase with funds provided by Jay T. Last. X99.26.10
Object Name: Pot lid
Artist: Unknown
Cultural Group: Woyo peoples
Place of Origin: Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola
Date: Late 19th-early 20th century
Dimensions: H: 5.00 cm, DIAM: 15.00 cm
Materials Used: Wood
Credit Line and Accession Number: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Museum Purchase with funds provided by Jay T. Last. X99.26.24
Object Name: Pot lid
Artist: Unknown
Cultural Group: Woyo peoples
Place of Origin: Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola
Date: Late 19th-early 20th century
Dimensions: H: 5.70 cm, DIAM: 16.50 cm
Materials Used: Wood
Credit Line and Accession Number: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Museum Purchase with funds provided by Jay T. Last. X99.26.28
Dress and Identity
Dress and adornment are social documents of time and place and at the same time convey aspects of individual and community identities. Details of dress—patterning, style, and color—may indicate age, marital status, geographic region, and social position. Dress can have a performative quality as well, echoing and amplifying the movements of the wearer.
The Fowler Museum maintains one of the world’s most encyclopedic collections of textiles and other items of dress. This section of Art and Knowledge features frequently changing displays of items selected from those collections, which reveal how people from various cultures around the globe communicate their identity and preserve and transmit cultural wisdom through textiles and related accoutrements.
Not Currently On View in Intersections
Woman’s blouse
Khanjuri
Bansali peoples (a Hindu farming jati)
Kutch, Gujarat, India
Before 1977
Silk, cotton, mirror
L: 44.5 cm, H: 77.5 cm (L: 17.5 in, H: 30.5 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Mr. & Mrs. Richard B. Rogers. X77.1428
Not Currently On View in Intersections
Bride’s outfit
Sonara peoples (Muslim goldsmiths)
Mothara, Abrasar district, Kutch, Gujarat, India
Circa 1920’s
Silk, cotton, metallic threads, mirror, sequins
L: 42.5 cm, H: 82.5 cm (L: 16.7 in, H: 32.5 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Mr. & Mrs. Richard B. Rogers. X77.1444a-c
Not Currently On View in Intersections
Womanäs tunic (aba) and pants (selwa)
Khatrie peoples (Muslim textile dyers)
Khavdah, Bhuj district, Gujarat, India
Circa 1963
Cotton, silk, mirror
L: 94.0 cm, H: 102.8 cm (L: 37.0 in, H: 40.5 in)
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Richard B. Rogers. X77.1449a,b
Not Currently On View in Intersections
Woman’s blouse
Ahir peoples (a Hindu farming jati)
Kutch, Gujarat, India
Before 1977
Cotton, silk, mirror
L: 90.0 cm, H: 52.6 cm (L: 35.4 in, H: 20.7 in)
Museum purchase. X78.1563
Not Currently On View in Intersections
Woman’s blouse (Khanjuri)
Rabari peoples (Hindu pastoralists)
Bavarneepur, Kutch, Gujarat, India
Before 1977
Silk, cotton, mirror, plastic buttons, sequins
W: 79.2 cm, L: 51.4 cm (W: 31.2 in, L: 20.2 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Mr. & Mrs. Richard B. Rogers and William Lloyd Davis. X81.1052
Not Currently On View in Intersections
Bride’s outfit
Memmon or Kutri Muslims
Kotara, western Kutch, Gujarat, India
Circa 1910
Silk, metallic thread, sequins
H: 120.0 cm, W: 108.0 cm (H: 47.2 in, W: 42.5 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Jonathan E. Fielding. X81.319a-c
Not Currently On View in Intersections
Wedding veil (odhni)
Khatrie peoples (Muslim textile dyers)
Suthrie, Abrasar district, Kutch, Gujarat, India
Circa 1925
Silk, metal, metallic thread
L: 170.2 cm, D: 144.8 cm (L: 67 in, D: 57 in)
Gift of Mrs. W. Thomas Davis. X82.1164
Performing Knowledge
Certain works of art are central to the education of children and adults. These objects communicate the values and beliefs of past generations through their forms and associated performances. Works in this section explore teaching through the arts in contexts of initiation, storytelling, and theater. Among the peoples of West and Central Africa, certain masks—when danced during periods of initiation—encode spiritual, moral, and practical knowledge. Dolls in many cultures are the playthings of young children, but among the Hopi of southwestern North America, they also represent supernatural intermediaries that can effect change in one’s life. And in theater contexts in Southeast Asia, puppets perform sacred stories, educating and entertaining youth and adults in the great epics of Asia.
Object Name: Sande Association helmet mask (sowei)
Artist: Unknown
Culture: Mende peoples
Place of Origin: Sierra Leone
Date/Era: 19th century
Medium/Materials: Wood, pigment, plant fiber
Dimensions: H: 31.0 cm, W: 7.5 cm, D: 8.0 cm (H: 12.2 in, W: 2.9 in, D: 3.1 in)
Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of the Wellcome Trust.
Accession Number: X65.4779
Not Currently On View in Intersections
Marionette
Artist: U Then Ye
Rangoon, Burma
Wood, silk, velvet, metal, glass beads, hair, lace, glass
H: 62.0 cm, W: 30.0 cm, D: 10.0 cm (H: 24.4 in, W: 11.8 in, D: 3.9 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. Museum Purchase. X67.242a
Tihu of Kooyemsi Katsina (Choral singer and drummer)
Artist: Grandfather of David Monongye
Hotevilla, Arizona
1900
Wood, paint, bandana
H: 23.5 cm, W: 7.6 cm, D: 6.0 cm (H: 9.2 in, W: 2.9 in, D: 2.3 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. Museum purchase. X68.158
Tihu of Hooli Katsina (Little Brother of the Eagle)
Artist: Grandfather of David Monongye
Hopi peoples
Hotevilla, Arizona
Circa 1900
Wood, feather, paint, string
H: 22.8 cm, W: 8.6 cm, D: 6.7 cm (H: 8.9 in, W: 3.4 in, D: 2.6 in)
Museum purchase. X68.161
Tihu of Taatangaya Katsina (Hornet)
Hopi peoples
Arizona
Late 20th century
Wood and paint
L: 25.5 cm, D: 9.5 cm (L: 10.0 in, D: 3.7 in)
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Steve Nelson. X82.932
Object Name: Mask (kholuka)
Artist: Unknown
Culture: Yaka peoples
Place of Origin: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Date/Era: Early 20th century
Dimensions: H: 75.0 cm, W: 45.0 cm, D: 50.0 cm (H: 29.5 in, W: 17.7 in, D: 19.7 in)
Medium/Materials: Wood, polychrome pigment, fiber
Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. The Jerome L. Joss Collection.
Accession Number: X83.978
Object Name: Tihu of Qoia Katsina
Artist: Unknown
Culture: Hopi
Place of Origin: Arizona, United States
Date/Era: Circa 1930
Dimensions: H: 24.5 cm, W: 10.1 cm (H: 9.6 in, W: 4 in)
Medium/Materials: Wood, feathers
Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Mr. Richard M. Cohen.
Accession Number: X84.1084
Object Name: Tihu of
Cultural Group: Hopi peoples
Place of Origin: Arizona
Date: Circa 1930
Dimensions: H: 29.00 cm, W: 18.00 cm, D: 12.70 cm
Materials Used: Wood, feathers, leather, yarn, fabric, silver, turquoise, string
Credit Line and Accession Number: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Mr. Richard M. Cohen. X84.1086
Proclaiming Heritage
Among the most important arts of the Austronesian peoples (who include today’s Indonesians, Filipinos, Polynesians, and others) are the carving of ancestor figures and the recitation of oral histories. The intersection of these arts preserves knowledge of the community’s heritage. The carved figures, often mounted in prominent locations in villages, serve as ever-present reminders of those who came before. By reciting genealogies and lists of place names, orators evoke the movements of ancestors and support the current leaders’ claims to authority. The ways of the ancestors are honored to secure their blessing, which promotes health, prosperity, and fertility in the community, fields, and fishing grounds. Although the works displayed here were mostly made in the nineteenth or early twentieth century, this outlook remains influential to varying degrees today in communities ranging from remote atolls to great urban centers.
Not Currently On View in Intersections
Object Name: Posts with ancestor figures
Artist: Unknown
Place of Origin: Leti Island, Southwest Moluccas, Indonesia
Date/Era: Probably 19th century
Dimensions: H: 175 cm
Medium/Materials: Wood
Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of the Wellcome Trust.
Accession Number: X65.3102, X65.3103
Not Currently On View in Intersections
Male figure
Admiralty Islands, Papua New Guinea
19th-early 20th century
Wood, pigment
X65.4990; Gift of the Wellcome Trust
Not Currently On View in Intersections
Object Name: Ancestor figures (adu zatua)
Artist: Unknown
Place of Origin: North Nias Island, Indonesia
Date/Era: Collected before 1907
Medium/Materials: Wood, plant fiber
Dimensions: W: 69 cm
Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of the Wellcome Trust.
Accession Number: X65.5679
Not Currently On View in Intersections
Doorjamb (jovo)
New Caledonia
19th century
Wood
X65.7433; Gift of the Wellcome Trust
Not Currently On View in Intersections
Object Name: Bin for storing millet
Artist: Unknown
Culture: Rukai peoples
Place of Origin: Taiwan
Date/Era: 19th to early 20th century
Medium/Materials: Wood, rattan
Dimensions: W: 106 cm
Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Museum purchase.
Accession Number: X65.8157
Not Currently On View in Intersections
Architectural Panel
Paiwan peoples
Taiwan
Early 20th century
Wood
H: 175.0 cm, W: 51.0 cm, D: 6.0 cm (H: 68.9 in, W: 20.1 in, D: 2.4 in)
Museum purchase. X65.8158
Not Currently On View in Intersections
Object Name: Ancestor figure for house altar
Artist: Unknown
Place of Origin: Bawömataluo, Nias, Indonesia
Date/Era: Probably 1870s
Medium/Materials: Wood, cloth
Dimensions: H: 39.5 cm, W: 10.0 cm, D: 11.0 cm (H: 15.5 in, W: 3.9 in, D: 4.3 in)
Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. The Jerome L. Joss Collection.
Accession Number: X85.1072
Not Currently On View in Intersections
Ancestor figure
Korwar
Cenderawasih Bay, West Papua (New Guinea), Indonesia
19th-early 20th century
Wood and glass beads
H: 26.3 cm, W: 11.5 cm, D: 15.3 cm (H: 10.4 in, W: 4.5 in, D: 6.0 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. The Jerome L. Joss Collection. X85.1075
Not Currently On View in Intersections
Object Name: Offering post
Artist: Unknown
Culture: Tetun peoples
Place of Origin: Dafala, Belu, West Timor, Indonesia
Date/Era: Probably 19th century or earlier
Dimensions: H: 92.7 cm, W: 30.4 cm, D: 24.1 cm (H: 34.5 in, W: 11.9 in, D: 9.5 in)
Medium/Materials: Stone
Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. The Jerome L. Joss Collection.
Accession Number: X86.3137
Not Currently On View in Intersections
Hearth post
Ifugao peoples
Northern Luzon, Philippines
19th-early 20th century
Wood
L: 90.2 cm, W: 18.4 cm (L: 35.5 in, W: 7.2 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of the Rogers Family Foundation. X86.3280
Not Currently On View in Intersections
Object Name: Canoe (tatara)
Artist: Unknown
Culture: Yami peoples
Place of Origin: Botel Tobago Island [Lan Yü], Taiwan
Date/Era: Early 20th century
Medium/Materials: Wood, paint, feathers, twine
Dimensions: L: 460.0 cm, W: 95.3 cm, H: 137.0 cm (L: 181.1 in, W: 37.5 in, H: 53.9 in)
Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Anonymous gift.
Accession Number: X91.5703a-d
Not Currently On View in Intersections
Object Name: Ancestor figures
Artist: Unknown
Cultural Group: Nage peoples
Place of Origin: Central Flores, Indonesia
Date: 19th-early 20th century
Dimensions: H: 57.50 cm, W: 18.50 cm, D: 13.00 cm
Materials Used: Wood
Credit Line and Accession Number: Fowler Museum at UCLA. The Jerome L. Joss Collection. X91.613a,b
In many world cultures, the arts play an integral role in defining and activating power. Although commonly associated with domination and military might, power and the concepts surrounding it are far more nuanced when explored in cross-cultural perspective. The works presented in this section, for example, have been used not only to augment political authority but also to ensure control over the environment, negotiate gender relationships, or express status and prestige.
Intended to balance power relationships or to harness spiritual forces, such objects visibly convey their authority and significance. Some are characterized by the use of precious materials, signaling rarity and wealth. Others incorporate symbolic motifs with meanings known only to particular individuals or groups. Still others represent animals possessing characteristics that are actually or metaphorically associated with power and leadership. The works featured here facilitate and represent hierarchical relationships through form, aesthetic conception, and attendant uses and meanings.
Empowering Leaders
Africa has been rich in arts supporting leadership and governance from precolonial times to the present. Whether in the context of military states, royal confederacies, sacred chieftaincies, or councils of elders, the arts have served to uphold and strengthen those in power and their domains. In turn, rulers have often been patrons of the arts with the volume of artistic production dependent on their ability to marshal ample resources.
This section explores particular examples of African leadership to demonstrate that political power can be defined only in specific cultural contexts. It may, for example, reside in a king’s quick wit and oratorical wisdom, or it may arise from a ruler’s link to the spirit world. Sometimes power results from a delicate balance between a ruler and other branches of government. In such a case the arts can serve to ensure social control and justice.
Not Currently On View in Intersections
Object Name: Elephant head crest
Artist: Unknown
Culture: Oku or Babanki peoples
Place of Origin: Northwestern Grassfields, Cameroon
Date/Era: 19th century
Medium/Materials: Wood, copper, alloy, iron alloy
Dimensions: L: 118.0 cm, W: 46.0 cm, H: 25.5 cm (L: 46.4 in, W: 18.1 in, H: 10.0 in)
Credit Line and accession number: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Mary-Louise Fantel in memory of Ernest Fantel.
Accession Number: X2006.4.1
Not Currently On View in Intersections
Pipe bowl
Bamum peoples, Cameroon
19th-20th century
Terra-cotta
X63.405; Gift of Mary Hastings Bradley.
Not Currently On View in Intersections
Beaded headdress for elephant mask
Bamileke peoples, Cameroon
Before 1880
Fiber, textile, beads, wood
H: 47.00 cm (18.5 in), W: 43.50 cm (17.1 in), D: 46.00 cm (18.1 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Mr. William Lloyd Davis. X64.86
Not Currently On View in Intersections
Chiefäs stool
Western Grassfields, Cameroon
Late 19th-early 20th century
Wood, plant fiber
X65.1617; Gift of the Wellcome Trust.
Not Currently On View in Intersections
Object Name: Ceremonial chair
Artist: Unknown
Place of Origin: Central Western Grassfields, Cameroon
Date/Era: Early 20th century
Dimensions: H: 81.5 cm
Medium/Materials: Wood
Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of the Wellcome Trust.
Accession Number: X65.1621
Not Currently On View in Intersections
Object Name: Bottle
Artist: Unknown
Cultural Group: Bamileke peoples
Place of Origin: Cameroon
Date: 19th century
Dimensions: Total Height: 62.50 cm, H: 53.50 cm, DIAM: 21.00 cm
Materials Used: Gourd, glass beads, textile, felt, thread
Credit Line and Accession Number: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of the Wellcome Trust. X65.5813ab
Not Currently On View in Intersections
Object Name: Palm-wine container
Artist: Unknown
Place of Origin: Grassfields, Cameroon
Date/Era: 19th century
Dimensions: H: 51 cm
Medium/Materials: Gourd, glass beads, textile, felt, thread, wood, cowrie shells
Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of the Wellcome Trust.
Accession Number: X65.5815A
Not Currently On View in Intersections
Object Name: Mask (tsesah)
Artist: Unknown
Culture: Bamileke peoples
Place of Origin: Bamendjo, Cameroon
Date/Era: Late 19th century
Medium/Materials: Wood, paint, iron dowel, plant fiber, plant gum
Dimensions: H: 53.34 cm, W: 47.00 cm, D: 30.50 cm (H: 21 in, W: 18.5 in, D: 12 in)
Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of the Wellcome Trust.
Accession Number: X65.5820
Not Currently On View in Intersections
Collar
Bamum peoples
Cameroon
Late 19th-early 20th century
Brass and copper
Diam: 26.0 cm, D: 1.8 cm (Diam: 10.2, D: .71 in)
Gift of the Wellcome Trust. X65.8228
Not Currently On View in Intersections
Fly whisk
Bamum peoples
Cameroon
19th century
Raffia cloth, glass beads, horsehair, iron, nails, raffia thread
H: 121.0 cm, W: 10.0 cm, D: 12.0 cm (H: 47.6 in, W: 3.9 in, D: 4.7 in)
Gift of George G. Frelinghuysen. X67.2052
Not Currently On View in Intersections
Object Name: Elephant mask and costume
Artist: Unknown
Culture Group: Bamileke peoples
Place of Origin: Cameroon
Date: 19th century
Materials: Burlap, fiber, fabric, seed beads, human hair
Dimensions: H: 118.0 cm, W: 111.5 cm (H: 46.4 in, W: 43.8 in)
Credit line and Accession Number: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Barry Kitnick. X73.529
Not Currently On View in Intersections
Crest mask
Oku peoples
Western Grassfields, Cameroon
19th-20th century
Wood
L: 44.5 cm, W: 27.9 cm (L: 17.5 in, W: 10.9 in)
Gift of Mr. W. Thomas Davis. X73.603
Not Currently On View in Intersections
Crest mask
Buffalo
Cameroon
Oku peoples
19th-20th century
L: 31.70 cm, H: 27.00 cm (L: 12.4 in, H: 10.6 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. Anonymous Gift. X77.935
Not Currently On View in Intersections
Object Name: Mask of a lineage group
Artist: Unknown
Culture: Oku or Babanki peoples
Place of Origin: Western Grassfields, Cameroon
Date/Era: 19th-20th century
Medium/Materials: Wood
Dimensions: L: 27.5 cm, H: 43.5 cm (L: 10.8 in, H: 17.1 in)
Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Anonymous Gift.
Accession Number: X78.126
Not Currently On View in Intersections
Crest mask, bird
Kom or Oku peoples
Western Grassfields, Cameroon
19th-20th century
Wood, kaolin, wire, vegetable fiber
H: 19.3 cm, W: 23.0 cm, D: 56.0 cm (H: 7.6 in, W: 9.1 in, D: 22.0 in)
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Melvin Silverman. X80.809
Not Currently On View in Intersections
Elephant mask
Bamileke peoples
Cameroon
20th century
Beads, cotton, wood
H: 150.0 cm, W: 71.5 cm, D: 6.0 cm (H: 59.1 in, W: 28.1 in, D: 2.4 in)
Anonymous gift. X82.569