West African Wasamba Initiation Rattle with Painted Gourd Disks

West Africa, possibly Ghana. A West African wasamba sistrum rattle made from a forked wooden branch and gourd disks. The branch divides into two arms of unequal length beneath a dark cap with parallel ridges, edged below by a band of blue pigment. A thin wooden rod set into the shorter arm carries a stack of gourd disks with notched edges, alternating with smaller plain spacer disks. The disks have red-brown surfaces painted with radial stripes of blue and yellow pigment. A knotted cord at the lower end holds the disks in place. Rattles of this type are associated with boys’ initiation ceremonies. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. Item # 203948

Estimate:£149.14

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