Necklace Item Number: 3041/4 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Necklace of cowrie shells with a gourd pendant. A double line of cowrie shells makes up the majority of the chain, strung on plastic fishing line. At the bottom are three pairs of shells interspersed with three strands of plastic beads in black red and white. A small brown gourd hangs below this, covered in a loosely woven covering of raffia, with a raffia tassel hanging below. The gourd is embellished with three evenly spaced decorations of a cowrie shell surrounded by a circle of beads.
History Of Use
The Bradjá is one of the identifying items of the Orixá (saint) named Oxumarê, younger brother of Omulu Obaluayê, of the Afro-Brazilian religion Candomblé. Unlike Omulu, however, Oxumarê was not abandoned by their mother Nanã. Oxumarê is the entity of movement, cycles, life and wealth. Deemed to be extremely beautiful and physically perfect (as opposed to his brother) he too became a wanderer and abandoned his mother.
Cultural Context
religious; ceremonial
Narrative
This item is part of a set, acquired from the O Mundo dos Orixás shop, Madureira Market, in Rio de Janeiro.
Item History
- Made in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil during 2013
- Collected by Nuno Porto during November 2013
- Owned by Mundo dos Orixas before November 22, 2013
- Received from Mundo dos Orixas (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Acquisitions Budget (Funding source) on November 22, 2013
What
- Name
- Necklace
- Identification Number
- 3041/4
- Type of Item
- necklace
- Material
- cowrie shell, gourd fruit, plastic and palm leaf
- Overall
- height 83.0 cm, width 7.0 cm, depth 9.5 cm
Who
- Culture
- Brazilian
- Field Collector
- Nuno Porto
- Previous Owner
- Mundo dos Orixas
- Received from
- Mundo dos Orixas (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Acquisitions Budget (Funding source)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
When
- Creation Date
- during 2013
- Collection Date
- during November 2013
- Ownership Date
- before November 22, 2013
- Acquisition Date
- on November 22, 2013
Other
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 3041/0004