Fly Whisk Item Number: Ca41 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Fly whisk with a long handle in black and white alternating braided hair with a wire loop at the end and a domed base with a band of green and orange cotton cloth. Strands of loose white hair taper towards the ends.
History Of Use
A fly whisk, called "chera or "chira", is a commonly used tool used to shoo away flies. Undecorated ones were handled by the male head of a household. In additional to practical uses, they can be used for ceremonies by people of rank. The use of horse hair symbolized high status because horses were difficult to keep alive in a country with tse-tse flies. Ceremonial whisks have intricate handles, such as ornamented metal and ivory, and horse hair can be dyed bright colours.
Item History
- Made in Ethiopia before 1974
- Collected during 1974
- Owned by Lemma Admasu before December 27, 1979
- Received from Lemma Admasu (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Donations Fund (Funding source) on December 27, 1979
What
- Name
- Fly Whisk
- Identification Number
- Ca41
- Type of Item
- whisk
- Material
- cotton fibre, horse hair, metal and dye
- Manufacturing Technique
- dyed and braided
- Overall
- height 72.0 cm, diameter 9.0 cm
Who
- Culture
- Ethiopian
- Previous Owner
- Lemma Admasu
- Received from
- Lemma Admasu (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Donations Fund (Funding source)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Ethiopia
When
- Creation Date
- before 1974
- Collection Date
- during 1974
- Ownership Date
- before December 27, 1979
- Acquisition Date
- on December 27, 1979
Other
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 0587/0009