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Tobacco, introduced into Africa in the 16th century, became the prerogative of leaders. As patrons of the arts, Chokwe chiefs commissioned elaborate pipes and mortars as part of their court regalia for display during public gatherings.

Page data

Page
1
Source index
0
Type
photo
Media ID
a15a5066ca72804e
Size
unknown

Document data

ID
149365
Core
obj
Type
object
DTO data
{
    "id": "149365",
    "contentType": "object",
    "title": "Snuff Mortar (Tesa Ya Ma Kanya)",
    "description": "Tobacco, introduced into Africa in the 16th century, became the prerogative of leaders. As patrons of the arts, Chokwe chiefs commissioned elaborate pipes and mortars as part of their court regalia for display during public gatherings.",
    "date": "late 1800s",
    "citation": "https://clevelandart.org/art/1978.28",
    "rights": "CC0",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "wikidata": [
        "Q79930489"
    ],
    "genreSpecific": [
        "Tools and Equipment"
    ],
    "iiifBase": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1978.28/1978.28_web.jpg",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1978.28/1978.28_web.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1978.28/1978.28_web.jpg",
    "imageCount": 1,
    "source": "import",
    "dimensionsRaw": "Overall: 22.5 x 8.4 x 13.8 cm (8 7/8 x 3 5/16 x 5 7/16 in.)",
    "cul": [
        "Africa, Central Africa, Angola or Democratic Republic of Congo, Chokwe carver"
    ],
    "accession": "1978.28"
}

Context sent to Scholar

Document identity
{
    "localId": "149365",
    "label": "Snuff Mortar (Tesa Ya Ma Kanya)",
    "core": "obj",
    "dtoType": "object"
}
Document source metadata
{
    "id": "149365",
    "contentType": "object",
    "title": "Snuff Mortar (Tesa Ya Ma Kanya)",
    "description": "Tobacco, introduced into Africa in the 16th century, became the prerogative of leaders. As patrons of the arts, Chokwe chiefs commissioned elaborate pipes and mortars as part of their court regalia for display during public gatherings.",
    "date": "late 1800s",
    "citation": "https://clevelandart.org/art/1978.28",
    "rights": "CC0",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "wikidata": [
        "Q79930489"
    ],
    "genreSpecific": [
        "Tools and Equipment"
    ],
    "iiifBase": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1978.28/1978.28_web.jpg",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1978.28/1978.28_web.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1978.28/1978.28_web.jpg",
    "imageCount": 1,
    "source": "import",
    "dimensionsRaw": "Overall: 22.5 x 8.4 x 13.8 cm (8 7/8 x 3 5/16 x 5 7/16 in.)",
    "cul": [
        "Africa, Central Africa, Angola or Democratic Republic of Congo, Chokwe carver"
    ],
    "accession": "1978.28"
}
Document source extras
{
    "tec": "Wood, upholstery studs, cloth, and metal",
    "tombstone": "Snuff Mortar (Tesa Ya Ma Kanya), late 1800s. Africa, Central Africa, Angola or Democratic Republic of Congo, Chokwe carver. Wood, upholstery studs, cloth, and metal; overall: 22.5 x 8.4 x 13.8 cm (8 7/8 x 3 5/16 x 5 7/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Katherine C. White, 1978.28",
    "collection": "African Art",
    "formerAccessionNumbers": [
        "790.68"
    ],
    "didYouKnow": "The metal furniture tacks around the tobacco container were signs of its owner's wealth and access to imported goods.",
    "citations": [
        {
            "citation": "Fagg, William, and Cleveland Museum of Art. 1968. <em>African Tribal Images; the Katherine White Reswick Collection</em>. Cleveland: Cleveland Museum of Art, no. 242."
        },
        {
            "citation": "Jordán, Manuel, Marie Louise Bastin, Birmingham Museum of Art (Birmingham, Ala), Baltimore Museum of Art, and Minneapolis Institute of Arts. 1998. <em>Chokwe! : Art and Initiation among the Chokwe and Related Peoples</em>. Munich: Prestel."
        }
    ],
    "url": "https://clevelandart.org/art/1978.28",
    "creditline": "Gift of Katherine C. White",
    "updatedAt": "2026-05-29 07:41:16.444000",
    "imageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1978.28/1978.28_print.jpg",
    "sourceId": 149365,
    "dept": "African Art",
    "coll": "African Art",
    "med": "Wood, upholstery studs, cloth, and metal",
    "thumbnail_url": null,
    "image_url": null
}
Page context
{
    "seq": 1,
    "pageIndex": 0,
    "type": "photo",
    "url": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1978.28/1978.28_web.jpg",
    "mediaId": "a15a5066ca72804e"
}