Penis Sheath
| 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 |
| This artwork is currently on view. | |
A penis sheath with carved coconut shell, braided fiber and shells. The shells decorate a band in that wraps around the central portion of the sheath.
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 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.
Request this image
The Eskenazi Museum of Art provides images of its collection, free of charge, upon request.
This artwork is under copyright protection. You can request the image and it will be emailed to you when the request is complete.
Cite this page
"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