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Luvale. <em>Pair of Rattles (Likishi Dance Costume Accessory)</em>, late 19th or early 20th century. Wood, fiber, 7 1/2 x 8 1/2 in. (19.1 x 21.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 36.550a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 36.548_36.549_36.550a-b_36.551a-b_36.552_36.553_threequarter_installation_SL1.jpg)
Luvale. Pair of Rattles (Likishi Dance Costume Accessory), late 19th or early 20th century. Wood, fiber, 7 1/2 x 8 1/2 in. (19.1 x 21.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 36.550a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 36.548_36.549_36.550a-b_36.551a-b_36.552_36.553_threequarter_installation_SL1.jpg)
Luvale. <em>Pair of Rattles (Likishi Dance Costume Accessory)</em>, late 19th or early 20th century. Wood, fiber, 7 1/2 x 8 1/2 in. (19.1 x 21.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 36.550a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 36.548_36.549_36.550a-b_36.551a-b_36.552_36.553_threequarter_installation_SL1.jpg)

Luvale. Pair of Rattles (Likishi Dance Costume Accessory), late 19th or early 20th century. Wood, fiber, 7 1/2 x 8 1/2 in. (19.1 x 21.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 36.550a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 36.548_36.549_36.550a-b_36.551a-b_36.552_36.553_threequarter_installation_SL1.jpg)

Luvale. <em>Pair of Rattles (Likishi Dance Costume Accessory)</em>, late 19th or early 20th century. Wood, fiber, 7 1/2 x 8 1/2 in. (19.1 x 21.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 36.550a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 36.548_36.549_36.550a-b_36.551a-b_36.552_36.553_front_installation_edited_SL1.jpg)

Luvale. Pair of Rattles (Likishi Dance Costume Accessory), late 19th or early 20th century. Wood, fiber, 7 1/2 x 8 1/2 in. (19.1 x 21.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 36.550a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 36.548_36.549_36.550a-b_36.551a-b_36.552_36.553_front_installation_edited_SL1.jpg)

Luvale. <em>Pair of Rattles (Likishi Dance Costume Accessory)</em>, late 19th or early 20th century. Wood, fiber, 7 1/2 x 8 1/2 in. (19.1 x 21.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 36.550a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 36.548_36.549_36.550a-b_36.551a-b_36.552_36.553_front_installation_SL1.jpg)

Luvale. Pair of Rattles (Likishi Dance Costume Accessory), late 19th or early 20th century. Wood, fiber, 7 1/2 x 8 1/2 in. (19.1 x 21.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 36.550a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 36.548_36.549_36.550a-b_36.551a-b_36.552_36.553_front_installation_SL1.jpg)

Luvale. <em>Pair of Rattles (Likishi Dance Costume Accessory)</em>, late 19th or early 20th century. Wood, fiber, 7 1/2 x 8 1/2 in. (19.1 x 21.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 36.550a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.36.550a-b_print_threequarter1_bw.jpg)

Luvale. Pair of Rattles (Likishi Dance Costume Accessory), late 19th or early 20th century. Wood, fiber, 7 1/2 x 8 1/2 in. (19.1 x 21.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 36.550a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.36.550a-b_print_threequarter1_bw.jpg)

Luvale. <em>Pair of Rattles (Likishi Dance Costume Accessory)</em>, late 19th or early 20th century. Wood, fiber, 7 1/2 x 8 1/2 in. (19.1 x 21.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 36.550a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 36.548_36.549_36.550a-b_36.551a-b_36.552_36.553_acetate_bw.jpg)

Luvale. Pair of Rattles (Likishi Dance Costume Accessory), late 19th or early 20th century. Wood, fiber, 7 1/2 x 8 1/2 in. (19.1 x 21.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 36.550a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 36.548_36.549_36.550a-b_36.551a-b_36.552_36.553_acetate_bw.jpg)

Luvale. <em>Pair of Rattles (Likishi Dance Costume Accessory)</em>, late 19th or early 20th century. Wood, fiber, 7 1/2 x 8 1/2 in. (19.1 x 21.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 36.550a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.36.550a-b_print_threequarter2_bw.jpg)

Luvale. Pair of Rattles (Likishi Dance Costume Accessory), late 19th or early 20th century. Wood, fiber, 7 1/2 x 8 1/2 in. (19.1 x 21.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 36.550a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.36.550a-b_print_threequarter2_bw.jpg)

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Pair of Rattles (Likishi Dance Costume Accessory)

Arts of Africa

This complete dance costume shows how masks are normally one part of a larger ensemble. The mask is sewn directly onto the costume of looped bark and fiber, which fits tightly over the body of the dancer. Seedpod rattles and metal bells added a musical aspect to the performance.

Although they are danced by Luvale men, mwana pwevo masks depict women. In order to own and perform with a mask, a man had to symbolically marry it by paying the carver a copper ring as a bride price. In so doing, the dancer made a commitment to honor and care for the spirit represented by the mask. In return, the dancer was able to earn his livelihood performing at local festivals.
This text refers to these objects: 36.550a-b; 36.549; 36.548; 36.551a-b; 36.552; 36.553; 36.554
CULTURE Luvale
MEDIUM Wood, fiber
  • Place Made: Zambia
    • DATES late 19th or early 20th century
    DIMENSIONS 7 1/2 x 8 1/2 in. (19.1 x 21.6 cm)  (show scale)
    COLLECTIONS Arts of Africa
    ACCESSION NUMBER 36.550a-b
    CREDIT LINE Museum Collection Fund
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Pair of wooden rattles, each consisting of four rows of rattles. One rattle missing. Worn by dancer as part of costume. CONDITION: One rattle broken.
    EXHIBITIONS
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Luvale. Pair of Rattles (Likishi Dance Costume Accessory), late 19th or early 20th century. Wood, fiber, 7 1/2 x 8 1/2 in. (19.1 x 21.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 36.550a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 36.548_36.549_36.550a-b_36.551a-b_36.552_36.553_threequarter_installation_SL1.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 36.548_36.549_36.550a-b_36.551a-b_36.552_36.553_threequarter_installation_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
    "CUR" at the beginning of an image file name means that the image was created by a curatorial staff member. These study images may be digital point-and-shoot photographs, when we don\'t yet have high-quality studio photography, or they may be scans of older negatives, slides, or photographic prints, providing historical documentation of the object.
    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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    Luvale. <em>Pair of Rattles (Likishi Dance Costume Accessory)</em>, late 19th or early 20th century. Wood, fiber, 7 1/2 x 8 1/2 in. (19.1 x 21.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 36.550a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 36.548_36.549_36.550a-b_36.551a-b_36.552_36.553_threequarter_installation_SL1.jpg)

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