Whistle, late 1800s, Cleveland Museum of Art: African ArtCarved out of ivory or wood in a variety of
Whistle, late 1800s, Cleveland Museum of Art: African ArtCarved out of ivory or wood in a variety of shapes, Chokwe whistles often bear miniature, stylized renderings of masks. Cikunza, the “patron saint” of the boys’ initiation into manhood, is depicted with a pointed extension imitating the horn of a road antelope, symbolizing the fertility spirit. Typically such whistles were used by men during the hunt to communicate with their co-hunters and to call their dogs. They were either worn attached to a string as a necklace or tied to a spear.Size: Overall: 8.6 x 3.2 cm (3 3/8 x 1 ¼ in.)Medium: carved ivoryhttps://clevelandart.org/art/1915.444 -- source link
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