Wooden nuchuba board with four rows of eight large holes; game is played by filling two inside rows of holes with four beans each and successfully moving all beans to the outside rows; origin Tutsi people (Central Africa).
Small knife with wooden handle wrapped in a metal strip; hide sheath decorated with a strip of wood wrapped with thick thread; origin Turkana people of Kenya.
Decorative knife with metal blade and wooden handle with metal dots at top and base; sheath with a wrist thong made of some sort of hide; metal wire wrapped around tip of sheath; origin Turkana people of Kenya.
Circular knife, believed to be worn on a wrist; blade edge is covered, ends of cover have copper fittings, interior opening has cover with wire decoration; origin Turkana people of Kenya.
Stilt doll from the Gio, or Dan, people of West Africa. The doll's belt and headband contain cowrie shells, and its skirt is made of raffia. Made by L. Zena Holcombe in Monrovia, Liberia.
Female doll wearing a white dress and yellow sash with the beaded letters "UOMO" and a heart on it. She is decorated with many charms, including coins, beads, and cowrie shells. Two of the coins have inscribed on them "Republic of West Africa." Origin Gambia.
Raffia doll in a ceremonial Sierra Leonian costume, holding the country's flag in one hand and a stick in the other. There is a round mirror on the front and back of the mask.
Orange and natural colored woven round, flat straw object resembling a trivet; no decoration on bottom; possible origin Uganda (weaving pattern resembles objects from Uganda).
One-string fiddle with skin head which is nailed to a painted wooden base; open bottom, red and black geometric design around base, string still attached; origin Ituri rainforest.
Mortar with handle which extends in one piece from rim to base; top rim decorated with spaced parallel lines, side of rim has cut-outs; base is scalloped; origin Bira people of the Ituri rainforest.
Ostrich egg shell for storing and drinking water; "Happy Easter Josephine" is inscribed along with two hearts, most likely an Easter gift from Colin Turnbull to Joseph Towles during their time studying the Ik people of Uganda.
A clock topper, ornamental figurine that is displayed atop a mantel or shelf clock. The female figure is seated beside a quiver of arrows and holds a box of jewels. Made by the Art Metal Works Company in New York, New York.
Ten-note barrel-shaped sound box, also known as board piano or thumb piano and lukembi, likembe, or kalimba; wooden with keys made from spoon handles, bicycle spikes, or metal keys hammered to the desired shape; keys plucked with thumb and fingers; very decorated; bottom has hole with eleven additional holes encircling it; inscription "CT" and "CP11D" carved into back of wood; origin Ndaka people of the Ituri rainforest.
Slave auctioneer's token, 1846. These tokens were distributed as one-cent pieces and served as advertisements for the businesses and services depicted on the coins. Face view of token reads "W.W. Wilbur Auction & Commission Merchant; Charleston, So. Ca.; Going at Only A Penny" encircling the image of an auctioneer. Obverse view of token reads "Merchants & Manufactors Agents; Collection Broker Notary Public" encircling the image of a tree.
Set of iron leg shackles used in the trans-Atlantic slave trade from Africa to North America. The chains that join each cuff contain incised designs resembling ferns.
Wooden neckrest/headrest with wooden charm attached to a woven vine; vine is attached to central vertical piece with two holes; origin Turkana people of Kenya.
Wooden neckrest/headrest with a metal chain around it; metal coin with a hole is looped into chain; inscribed upon coin is "GEORGIUS SEXTUS REX ONE CENT"; origin Dodoth people of Uganda.
Pyrographic image of a woman carrying a basket of fruit and a child. Reads "Mama Salone," an affectionate term sometimes used in place of "Sierra Leone." Origin Freetown.
From Colin Turnbull's personal belongings; Siva with four arms, a serpent around his neck and legs, standing on a child in front of a circle with flames.
