A Pair of Basket Rattles
Upper Congo, DR Congo
Ngala people
Late 19th to Early 20th century
Natural fibers (including raffia), seeds
Late 19th to Early 20th century
Natural fibers (including raffia), seeds
smaller H 8 ins (20 cm) D 3.5 ins (9 cm)
larger H 9 ins (23 cm) D 3.5 ins (9 cm)
The decorative raffia braiding embellishing these hollow, dumb-bell shaped ideophone shaken rattles is exceptionally elaborate and finely worked. A related rattle (though not as decorative) entered the foundational Crosby-Bown collection of world musical instruments at The Met in 1889.
$900 for the pair