Penis Sheath

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Culture Iwam

Title Penis Sheath

Date Late 19th–20th century

Medium Coconut shell, fiber, nassa shells, and and cowrie shells

Dimensions Object: 5 1/16 × 1 1/2 in. (12.9 × 3.8 cm)
Overall: 5 1/16 x 1 1/2 in. (12.9 x 3.8 cm)

Credit Line Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University

Accession Number 71.13.1

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About this Work

This penis sheath was owned by a man as an indication of his position within the community. Iwam men belonged to grade societies through which they moved as part of adulthood, their level within this society reflecting their place within the community more generally. Those who belonged to the lowest level of this grade society would have a penis sheath made of basketry, with the stage above it being made of bamboo and the highest grade, represented by this example with coconut and shells.

Provenance
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Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.

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"Penis Sheath | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=71.13.1