Melville J. and Frances S. Herskovits collection realia

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Melville J. and Frances S. Herskovits collection realia

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Description: The Melville and Frances Herskovits Collection is one of the most comprehensive ethnographic collections documenting African and African American culture. The collection is comprised of 945 items such as masks, statues, household utensils, tools, weapons, furniture, musical instruments, gold weights, games, costumes, textiles, several maps and paintings etc. Most items are primarily from West Africa and Surinam in South America. There are also some materials from the Caribbean and the United States. The collection is organized by geographical region, culture area and object type. Objects contained in the collection are from the following countries: Nigeria, Zaire, Liberia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Angola, Sierra Leone, African Central Republic, Cameroon, Benin, Mali, Burkina Faso, Kenya and Surinam and Haiti. Ethnic groups represented are the: Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Fulani, Ijo, Pende, Kuba, Mangbetu, Dan, Ashanti, Akan, Ewe, Senufo, Baule, Chokwe, Mossi, Masaii, Ramileke, and the Bamana.
Names: Herskovits, Melville J. (Melville Jean), 1895-1963 (Compiler); Herskovits, Jean (Compiler)
Dates / Origin: Date Created: 1920 - 1986
Library locations: Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Art and Artifacts Division; Shelf locator: Sc Art (Melville J. and Frances S. Herskovits collection)
Topics: Lagenaria siceraria; Statues -- Nigeria; Statues -- Congo (Democratic Republic); Statues -- Liberia; Statues -- Ghana; Statues -- Côte d'Ivoire; Statues -- Angola; Statues -- Sierra Leone; Statues -- Central African Republic; Statues -- Cameroon; Statues -- Benin; Statues -- Mali; Statues -- Suriname; Implements, utensils, etc -- Nigeria; Implements, utensils, etc -- Congo (Democratic Republic); Implements, utensils, etc -- Liberia; Implements, utensils, etc -- Ghana; Implements, utensils, etc -- Cameroon; Implements, utensils, etc -- Benin; Implements, utensils, etc -- Suriname; Basketwork -- Benin; Basketwork -- Suriname; Armor -- Nigeria; Armor -- Congo (Democratic Republic); Armor -- Suriname; Musical instruments -- Nigeria; Musical instruments -- Congo (Democratic Republic); Cameroon; Musical instruments -- Benin; Musical instruments -- Suriname; Staffs (Sticks, canes, etc.) -- Nigeria; Staffs (Sticks, canes, etc.) -- Benin; Staffs (Sticks, canes, etc.) -- Suriname; Ivories -- Angola; Masks -- Nigeria; Masks -- Congo (Democratic Republic); Masks -- Liberia; Masks -- Côte d'Ivoire; Masks -- Angola; Masks -- Burkina Faso; Masks -- Cameroon; Goldweights -- Ghana; Goldweights, Akan; Goldweights, Ashanti; Miniature objects -- Ghana; Textile fabrics -- Nigeria; Textile fabrics -- Congo (Democratic Republic); Textile fabrics -- Liberia; Textile fabrics -- Ghana; Textile fabrics -- Burkina Faso; Textile fabrics -- Kenya; Textile fabrics -- Cameroon; Textile fabrics -- Benin; Textile fabrics -- Suriname; Combs -- Liberia; Combs -- Ghana; Combs -- Benin; Combs -- Suriname; Board games -- Nigeria; Board games -- Cameroon; Drum; Figurines -- Nigeria; Figurines -- Ghana; Jewelry -- Benin; Jewelry -- Suriname; Charms; Stools -- Nigeria; Stools -- Ghana; Stools -- Benin; Stools -- Suriname; Tobacco pipes; Tools -- Congo (Democratic Republic); Tools -- Côte d'Ivoire; Tools -- Benin; Tools -- Suriname; Fula (African people) -- Nigeria; Hausa (African people) -- Nigeria; Ijo (African people); Yoruba (African people) -- Nigeria; Igbo (African people); Pende (African people) -- Congo (Democratic Republic); Kuba (African people) -- Congo (Democratic Republic); Mangbetu (African people) -- Congo (Democratic Republic); Dan (African people) -- Liberia; Ashanti (African people); Akan (African people) -- Ghana; Ewe (African people); Senufo (African people); Baule (African people); Chokwe (African people) -- Angola; Maasai (African people); Bamileke (African people); Bambara (African people)
Genres: Objects; Ephemera; Textiles; Sculpture; Games
Notes: Content: Field notes separated to Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Book Divisionand are described separately.; Content: Photographs separated to Photographs and Prints Division.; Preferred citation: From the collection of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, The New York Public Library, Astor Lenox & Tilden Foundation, Arts & Artifacts Division.; Content: Forms part of the African Art and Artifacts Collection.
Physical Description: Extent: 98 textiles.; Extent: 1 lock.; Extent: 8 paintings.; Extent: 12 staffs.; Extent: 10 pipes.; Extent: 7 gold implements.; Extent: 2 charms.; Extent: 20 tools.; Extent: 58 combs.; Extent: 1 neckrest.; Extent: 18 drums.; Extent: 5 ornaments.; Extent: 5 games.; Extent: 13 musical instruments.; Extent: 1 ivory.; Extent: 30 stools.; Extent: 110 goldweights.; Extent: 52 masks.; Extent: 8 weapons.; Extent: 28 baskets.; Extent: 11 heads and busts.; Extent: 117 utensils.; Extent: 165 figures.; Extent: 84 calabashes.
Type of Resource: Three dimensional object
Identifiers: RLIN/OCLC: NYPG087000001-F; NYPL catalog ID (B-number): b11527179; Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): 71626000-12bb-013c-1a26-0242ac110002

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