© Michael C. Carlos Museum, Emory University

ClassificationsAfrican Art

Oil Lamp with Bush Spirit

Place CreatedCôte d'Ivoire, Africa

CultureSenufo

Datelate 19th-early 20th Century

MediumIron, bronze

Credit LineEx coll. William S. Arnett

Dimensions42 x 2 3/8 x 3 11/16 in. (106.7 x 6 x 9.4 cm)

Object number1994.004.434

Label TextOil lamps on staves (staffs), called fetinn, are widely used in Senufo households as well as by diviners (oracles or prophets). While most domestic lamps are adorned with images of animals or birds, the bronze figure on this stave represents a bush spirit (mandeo), or one's spiritual twin. Smaller versions of these spirit figures (mandebele) are made out of brass and worn as amulets on the advice of a diviner. Their presence is thought to keep the spirit twin from bringing the living twin to the world of spirits.
Exhibition HistoryMCCM Permanent Collection Installation, Rotation 1, December 15, 1995 - February 1997
MCCM Permanent Collection Installation, Rotation 2, February 1997 - July 1998

ProvenanceEx coll. William S. Arnett (1939-2020), Atlanta, Georgia.

Status

Not on view

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