N'domo mask used in the second of seven initiation rituals for boys of the Bambara people of Mali. The decorated vertical wooden posts represent the wisdom of the cosmos and the long nose symbolizes vitality.
A funerary statuette common among the Hongwe (Mahongwe), Kota (Bakota), and Fang people of Gabon. The statue is placed upon a box containing the remains of an ancestor and acts as the guardian of the reliquaries.
Union navy uniform buttons, composed probably of brass or copper alloy, with raised upright foul anchor design on horizontal line background and rope border on forward face and backmark inscription that reads "Superfine Standard," with copper alloy attachment clip on back. Images show assortment of Union navy buttons following removal from the submarine interior sediment and initial cleaning, two buttons showing forward face and one showing reverse side and clip following mechanical cleaning, four buttons all showing forward face following mechanical cleaning, one button showing forward face and one button showing reverse side with keyring on eyelet following mechanical cleaning, two buttons showing forward face and one button showing reverse side with keyring on eyelet following mechanical cleaning, one button showing forward face and one button showing reverse side with clip following mechanical cleaning, and close-up of two buttons following mechanical cleaning, one showing forward face in background and one showing lateral view of reverse side with clip in foreground.
Left shoe, Brogan style, cut out of two main leather pieces with at least two metal nails in the heel and four eyelets for laces, two of them containing metal rings. Images show boot following removal from the submarine interior, x-ray photograph of the boot containing sediment and bone fragments, and boot following cleaning and freeze drying treatment.
Binoculars composed of copper alloy barrels (painted black), a horn focus knob, iron pins and 6 elliptical lenses as opposed to round. Images show the binoculars following removal from the submarine interior and initial cleaning, and binoculars after extensive soaking, cleaning, and conservation treatment.
Folding or straight razor knife, covers made of horn and all other components made of iron, with mineralized blade. Images show knife within heavy concretion and knife following deconcretion and conservation treatment.
Silk bandanna or neckerchief belonging to crewmember James Wicks. Images show the bandana following removal from the submarine interior and the bandana following cleaning, soaking, conservation treatment, and freeze drying.
Folding pocket knife, made of antler covers, German silver bolsters, and iron blades completely mineralized. Images show the pocket knife following removal from the submarine interior and the knife following cleaning and conservation treatment.
Tall wooden mask with a rectangular box for the head. The top portion depicts a female figure below a perched bird with a downward thrusting arrow. Origin is either Dogon or Mossi people of Burkina Faso.
Oval ancestoral or spirit board with abstract designs. Ancestor boards are kept in men's ceremonial houses and can represent personal spirits or simply be used for decoration. Origin Papua New Guinea.
Wooden stool used in nkumbi initiation; bottom has three incised marks on each side, handle carved on one side near the center column, and incised area in the middle of the top; origin Bira people of the Epulu region of the Ituri rainforest.
Wooden stool used in nkumbi initiation graduation; top is scalloped, base is square, four decorated block shapes between base and top; etched into one side is "H_ _ _ _ _"; origin Epulu region of the Ituri rainforest.
Wooden initation doctor's mask with beard; ears, eyes, nose, and mouth all have holes; eyebrows carved down to the mouth in a series of reverse S's creating cheek bones; touched the nose is a carved vertical band; ears protude inward to eyes; faded white dots over entire face.
Plain non-military buttons made of bone with depressed center and primarily four holes, though some contain five holes. Images show a small sample of twelve buttons of varying conditions before initial cleaning and desalination, seven buttons of varying conditions following cleaning and desalination, and thirty-five buttons of varying conditions following initial cleaning and desalination.
Framed oil painting depicting a village scene with three grass-covered dwellings, three seated women, and one woman with a child on her back, several trees; signed "Kioswa" bottom right; origin unknown.
Brown comb with very fine teeth on either side, made probably of horn, and used most likely as a moustache or lice comb. Images show the comb as it was discovered in the submarine interior and following cleaning, soaking, and drying process.
Cast iron hatch cover from aft conning tower with a small viewport, bleeding valve and part of the locking mechanism. Images show the concreted hatch cover as excavated and still attached to conning tower, hatch cover during removal via crane, conning tower following hatch cover removal, and partially deconcreted hatch cover with rubber seal still attached.
Framed acrylic painting depicting five people in a village setting of four structures within a lush forest; signed "NeTUAHO" lower right; origin unknown.
Coiled, oblong fruit basket with cross handle made of sweetgrass, bulrush, and pine needle, sewn with palmetto leaf. This basket was created by a left-handed artist, visually evident by the slant of the palmetto leaf wraps. The wraps in a right-handed basket typically slant to the left, while the wraps in this basket slant to the right.
Objects from Colin Turnbull's personal shrine; four pieces of jewelry: two cowry shell necklaces, one necklace of seed beads, one bracelet of seed beads.
Cameo-type, non-military button with profile of bearded, male head in brass on white stone wafer with scalloped rim. Images show the button prior to deconcretion and cleaning, and the cleaned button following conservation treatment and sediment removal.
Oil can (oiler) containing oil, composed of brass, discovered partly fused to the forward bulkhead and concreted. Images show the oil can under heavy concretion and the oil can following deconcretion, conservation treatment with caustic solution, and cleaning.
Glass chicken egg used for inducing hens to lay eggs. According to Mrs. Gold, to encourage a hen to lay eggs in a specific place, farmers would often begin making their nests and place the artificial nesting eggs in them with the hope that the hen would complete her nest in that location. This also helped the farmer keep track of which hens were laying eggs and where the eggs were located. The glass eggs remained in the nest until the hen laid and incubated the eggs and the offspring hatched. It was important to maintain this process and promptly remove the artificial egg so that it could be reused.
A glass turkey egg used to encourage turkey hens to lay eggs in a particular location. According to Mrs. Gold, to encourage a hen to lay eggs in a specific place, farmers would often begin making their nests and place the artificial nesting eggs in them with the hope that the hen would complete her nest in that location. This also helped the farmer keep track of which hens were laying eggs and where the eggs were located. The glass eggs remained in the nest until the hen laid and incubated the eggs and the offspring hatched. It was important to maintain this process and promptly remove the artificial egg so that it could be reused.
Front and top views of a contemporary sweetgrass basket for decorative use in the shape of a hat; center constructed of pine needle; sewn with palmetto leaf.
Front and top views of a contemporary sweetgrass basket for decorative use in the shape of a hat; center constructed of pine needle; sewn with palmetto leaf.
Bundle of wooden arrows wrapped with a piece of raffia, seven with metal tips, fourteen in all; end of one is notched with traces of poison; origin Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire), Mbuti people.
Front and interior views of a multiple views of a contemporary sweetgrass basket in the form of a hat, made of sweetgrass and bulrush and sewn with palmetto leaf. There is a felt band sewn inside.
