Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Source Description
This device helped contact an ancestral spirit who clarified misfortunes. The diviner awakened the ancestor by anointing the rectangular frame of the figurine with pungent basil leaves. Sitting on a textured woven mat, the diviner held one side of the instrument while the client held the other. The diviner then posed questions to the ancestor who responded through certain movement signaling affirmation.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
168753
label
Divination Implement
core
obj
dtoType
sculpture
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
168753
contentType
sculpture
title
Divination Implement
description
This device helped contact an ancestral spirit who clarified misfortunes. The diviner awakened the ancestor by anointing the rectangular frame of the figurine with pungent basil leaves. Sitting on a textured woven mat, the diviner held one side of the instrument while the client held the other. The diviner then posed questions to the ancestor who responded through certain movement signaling affirmation.
date
late 1800s–early 1900s
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q80075133
genreSpecific
Sculpture
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Overall: 11.4 x 3.4 x 4.8 cm (4 1/2 x 1 5/16 x 1 7/8 in.)
cul
Africa, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Luba-style maker
accession
2010.455
Source extras
tec
Wood, glass beads, and natural fiber
tombstone
Divination Implement, late 1800s–early 1900s. Africa, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Luba-style maker. Wood, glass beads, and natural fiber; overall: 11.4 x 3.4 x 4.8 cm (4 1/2 x 1 5/16 x 1 7/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, René and Odette Delenne Collection, Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund, 2010.455
collection
African Art
didYouKnow
This divination implement is a <em>kakishi</em> (embodiment of an ancestor) device that connects the diviner and the client to the spirit they wish to contact.
citations
citation
Petridis, Constantine, et al. <em>Fragments of the Invisible: The René and Odette Delenne Collection of Congo Sculpture.</em> Cleveland, OH: Cleveland Museum of Art. Milan: 5 Continents Editions, 2013, 25, 80, 84.
page_number
Mentioned: pp. 25.80, 114; reproduced: 84, cat. 27
creditline
René and Odette Delenne Collection, Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund
updatedAt
2026-05-29 08:40:51.553000
sourceId
168753
dept
African Art
coll
African Art
med
Wood, glass beads, and natural fiber
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
b66bd326162ba04d