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Source Description
In Central Africa, flywhisks denoted status, rank, and function, rather than used to whisk away flies. Commonly associated with chiefs and titleholders, they were also owned by diviners and healers. Their purpose may also have been used to purify spaces, bless people, places, or things, and settle disputes. Flywhisks rarely depict women; yet this finely carved miniature of a woman kneeling signifies obedience and respect.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
168729
label
Flywhisk
core
obj
dtoType
sculpture
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
168729
contentType
sculpture
title
Flywhisk
description
In Central Africa, flywhisks denoted status, rank, and function, rather than used to whisk away flies. Commonly associated with chiefs and titleholders, they were also owned by diviners and healers. Their purpose may also have been used to purify spaces, bless people, places, or things, and settle disputes. Flywhisks rarely depict women; yet this finely carved miniature of a woman kneeling signifies obedience and respect.
date
late 1800s-early 1900s
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q80075068
genreSpecific
Sculpture
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Overall: 30 x 16 x 18 cm (11 13/16 x 6 5/16 x 7 1/16 in.)
cul
Africa, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo (most likely), Cabinda, or Republic of the Congo, probably Yombe-style maker
accession
2010.435
Source extras
tec
Wood and animal hair
tombstone
Flywhisk, late 1800s-early 1900s. Africa, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo (most likely), Cabinda, or Republic of the Congo, probably Yombe-style maker. Wood and animal hair; overall: 30 x 16 x 18 cm (11 13/16 x 6 5/16 x 7 1/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, René and Odette Delenne Collection, Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund, 2010.435
collection
African Art
didYouKnow
Rarely do flywhisks depict a female figure.
citations
citation
Petridis, Constantine, et al. <em>Fragments of the Invisible</em>: <em>The René and Odette Delenne Collection of Congo Sculpture.</em> Cleveland, OH: Cleveland Museum of Art. Milan: 5 Continents Editions, 2013, 62.
page_number
Reproduced: p. 62; mentioned: p. 113, cat. 22
creditline
René and Odette Delenne Collection, Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund
updatedAt
2026-05-29 08:40:22.254000
sourceId
168729
dept
African Art
coll
African Art
med
Wood and animal hair
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
5beef3e2d362f0c9