Fly Whisk Item Number: 3188/10 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Fly whisk. The handle is a short and relatively straight stick stripped of bark. At upper end is a long, thick hank of horse hair, attached by a tightly woven panel of horse hair and cotton string. Hair thins slightly toward end of whisk.
History Of Use
A fly whisk, called "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 Gondar, Amara, Ethiopia before 1972
- Owned by Edward Harvey and Lorna Marsden before July 15, 2016
- Received from Edward Harvey (Donor) and Lorna Marsden (Donor) on July 15, 2016
What
- Name
- Fly Whisk
- Identification Number
- 3188/10
- Type of Item
- whisk
- Material
- horse hair, wood and cotton fibre
- Overall
- height 85.5 cm, width 9.0 cm, depth 4.0 cm
Who
- Culture
- Ethiopian
- Previous Owner
- Edward Harvey and Lorna Marsden
- Received from
- Edward Harvey (Donor) and Lorna Marsden (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Gondar, Amara, Ethiopia
When
- Creation Date
- before 1972
- Ownership Date
- before July 15, 2016
- Acquisition Date
- on July 15, 2016
Other
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 3188/0010