Sistrum
Artist Unidentified
20th century, about 1960
Object PlaceMali
Medium/TechniqueWood
DimensionsOverall: 55 x 34 x 15 cm (21 5/8 x 13 3/8 x 5 7/8 in.)
Credit LineGift of Geneviève McMillan in memory of Reba Stewart
Accession number2009.2769
On View
Not on viewClassificationsMusical instruments
DescriptionAmong the many objects that arrived in the McMillan Collection through Bamako is this sistrum, a musical instrument. Long overlooked, these works first came to the attention of American collectors when such an instrument appeared in a 1960 catalogue and exhibition devoted to the Bamana at New York's Museum of Primitive Art.
Provenance1960s, sold by Mr. Coulibaly (probably Amadou Coulibaly; dealer), Bamako, Mali to Geneviève McMillan (b. 1922 - d. 2008), Cambridge, MA; 2008, to the Geneviève McMillan and Reba Stewart Foundation, Cambridge; 2009, gift of the Geneviève McMillan and Reba Stewart Foundation to the MFA. (Accession Date: June 17, 2009)
20th century
20th century
20th century
Early to mid-20th century
20th century
20th century