Burkina Faso Serrated Bell

Throughout Africa, and indeed the world, utilitarian objects can travel far from their place of origin. Even items used ceremonially can be made by a person of one ethnic group and sold or traded to a person from another group. This is particularly true with blacksmith-made musical instruments where the functionality and the tone trump identifying form. The origin of this rare, beautifully formed bell is central West Africa. Ascribing it a precise tribal identity is not possible, but like some tubular bells identified by Blandin as Senoufo this instrument has serrated edges and was once supported by an iron ring (now lost) secured through its two central piercings. Viewed vertically rasp-bell is reminiscent of a Dogon Kanaga mask. Its indicates that it was abandoned for a period of decades, perhaps in the ruins of a village. Even today, much ancient iron remains in the ground in archaeological throughout the region where villages uprooted themselves over the centuriess due to political and environmental pressures. 14.5″ long.

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