A Pair of Basket Rattles

Upper Congo, DR Congo
Ngala people
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

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Basket Rattles from the Congo