Elegant hairpin with snuff container ·  South Africa, Zulu · ID: 3053576

Description

horn, wood,

The tapering vessel is fashioned from a single piece of animal horn, shaped through a process of soaking and heating. Its slender, needle-like ends gradually transition to a lighter hue.

The few comparable examples recorded in the literature and in museum collections suggest that objects of this type were reserved for members of the Zulu elite. The exceptional quality and refinement of the workmanship lend further support to this interpretation.

Comparing literature

Ginzberg, Marc, Afrikanische Formen, Mailand 2001, p. 118