Necklace

Item number 3041/4 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

Public

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Data
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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