H x W x D: 40 x 150 x 162 cm (15 3/4 x 59 1/16 x 63 3/4 in.)
Type:
Decorative Arts
Geography:
Algeria
Mali
Mauritania
Date:
Early to mid-20th century
Label Text:
The bed is the largest piece of furniture used by the Tuareg. It is part of a woman's dowry and a sign of well-being. Wealthy Tuareg might own several. Made of light wood, the bed is easy to dismantle and transport. To form the head of the bed, the Tuareg place a pole with large, round finials on two supports; they form the foot of the bed by placing another pole with smaller finials on two other supports. Five or six cross poles fit into notches on the head and foot poles. The Tuareg sleep on leather-trimmed reed mats placed on top of the cross poles.
This bed is very ornate and may have been made for a foreign client. The supports are covered with leather and are embellished with designs made from a sheet of silver, copper, brass, silver wire and studs. The triangle motif on the finials is a protective symbol among the Tuareg. On a less ornate bed such designs would be inscribed with a hot poker.
Description:
Bed, almost square, with two long poles (one for the head and one for the feet) each ending in large, round finials at both extremities. The poles have six notches in them for longitudinal cross poles. The bed is supported by two pairs of carved feet. The finials, feet and poles are covered in leather and elaborately decorated with silver and copper. The more elaborate finials on poles for the head of the bed each have a cross with 4 triangles motifs while the finials on poles at the foot of the bed each have only a cross. The poles with finials are covered in alternating strips of copper and silver. The ends of the longitudinal cross poles are covered with silver decorated with cross motifs and silver and copper studs.
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
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