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Source 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.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
149365
label
Snuff Mortar (Tesa Ya Ma Kanya)
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
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
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q79930489
genreSpecific
Tools and Equipment
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
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.
creditline
Gift of Katherine C. White
updatedAt
2026-05-29 07:41:16.444000
sourceId
149365
dept
African Art
coll
African Art
med
Wood, upholstery studs, cloth, and metal
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
a15a5066ca72804e