Object Details
Maker
Moor artist
Label Text
The Tuareg and Moors drink green tea flavored with herbs and sweetened with sugar. Tea glasses and sugar hammers, once used for breaking up sugar loaves, are part of the daily tea rituals. The Tuareg and Moors keep their tea glasses in leather bags or protective metal boxes. The boxes have compartments made of wood and lined with leather for three or more glasses. The outside of the boxes are decorated with copper, brass or silver embellishments.
This small, oval case is decorated with silver and punched motifs that reflect Mauritanian influence. The engravings are typical Tuareg designs. The triangular motifs on the top of this box, a sign of protection, are also found on Tuareg tent screens, mats and leatherwork.
Description
Oval shaped box for holding tea glasses with copper and silver pieces in the shapes of chevrons, triangles and rectangles. The case and the individual pieces of metal are engraved with motifs. The body is studded with silver and copper tacks.
Provenance
Private European collection, collected Niger or Mali, 1959-1971 to 1993
Exhibition History
Art from the Forge, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., September 6, 1995-January 2, 1996
Art of the Personal Object, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., September 24, 1991-April 9, 2007
Published References
Loughran, Kristyne. 1995. Art from the Forge. Washington D.C.: National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, p. 15, no. 7.
Content Statement
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Credit Line
Museum purchase and gift of Mrs. Florence Selden in memory of Carl L. Selden
Date
Early to mid-20th century
Object number
93-6-20
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
Sculpture
Medium
Brass, copper, silver, wood, leather
Dimensions
H x W x D: 9.5 x 19.1 x 6.4 cm (3 3/4 x 7 1/2 x 2 1/2 in.)
See more items in
National Museum of African Art Collection
Data Source
National Museum of African Art
Topic
Status
geometric motif
male
Link to Original Record
Record ID
nmafa_93-6-20