Earrings

Object Details

Label Text: Earrings, particularly twisted gold hoops ubiquitous throughout western Africa since the first millenium AD, are an essential component of any Senegalese jewelry ensemble. Often paired with a matching pendant or necklace, the more ornate patterns reflect their European inspirations, incorporating delicate filigree work and crested with flowers and circlets of twisted wire design. These designs often bore French names, or French derivatives. Dangling versions, sometimes modeled after common necklace designs, are also popular and are known as "long-longs." Others are small hoops composed of coiled or twisted wire or gold meant to be attached permanently to the ear and worn in multiples. Originating in what is now Mali, these earrings are called "dibe" (or "sigi") and in addition to the tiny, permanent version, come in an impressive variety of shapes, sizes, thickness and tightness of twist, like the earrings seen here. The design is the oldest and most popular in Senegal, attesting to its infinite forms.
Description: Gold (probably alloy) earrings of flattened and tightly twisted, or flanged, metal. Bent metal wire fashioned for attachment to ears.
Provenance: Marian Johnson, purchased in Dakar, Senegal, 1963-late 20th century to 2012
Published References: Maples, Amanda, Ashby Johnson, Marian, and Dumouchelle, Kevin D., 2018, Good As Gold, Washington, D.C.: NMAfA, Smithsonian, p. 72, illustrated p. 73

Medium: Gold
Dimensions: A: 3.8 x 3.4 x 7 cm (1 1/2 x 1 5/16 x 2 3/4 in.) B: 3.9 x 3 x 0.8 cm (1 9/16 x 1 3/16 x 5/16 in.)

National Museum of African Art

GUID (Link to Original Record): http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ys70c41d871-31ca-4874-ad9c-4edc6afe2512