H x W x D: 16.2 x 17.3 x 9.6 cm (6 3/8 x 6 13/16 x 3 3/4 in.)
Type:
Sculpture
Geography:
Somalia
Label Text:
Large wooden camel bells in the museum's collection are attributed to pastoralists in Somalia, Ethiopia and Northern Kenya. Among these peoples the camel is a symbol of a nomadic way of life, and the backbone of the economy. Female camels are kept as a milk animal; male as a burden animal. While the bells lack of embellishment suggest a practical purpose, the importance given the camels make the bells seem more like gifts to a loved one, indeed in Somalia the camel is the subject of extensive poetry. For example one anonymous poem uses the phrase
"…Like a she-camel with a large bell
Come from the plateau and the region of the Upper Haud
The stifling heat of the sun is oppressive"
Description:
Triangular wood bell with two wooden clappers projecting from mouth of bell; twisted plant fiber rope passes through hole near top of bell
Provenance:
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Jackson, Washington, DC, -- to 1972
Content Statement:
As part of our commitment to accessibility and transparency, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art is placing its collection records online. Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks. If you see content requiring immediate action, we will do our best to address it in a timely manner. Please email nmafacuratorial@si.edu if you have any questions.
Image Requests:
High resolution digital images are not available for some objects. For publication quality photography and permissions, please contact the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives at https://africa.si.edu/research/eliot-elisofon-photographic-archives/
