Kola Nut Box in the Form of an Antelope Head
| Culture | Edo |
|---|---|
| Title | Kola Nut Box in the Form of an Antelope Head |
| Date | Unknown |
| Medium | Wood and brass |
| Dimensions | Object: 13 3/4 × 5 1/4 × 7 in. (34.9 × 13.3 × 17.8 cm) Overall: 13 3/4 x 5 1/4 x 7 in. (34.9 x 13.3 x 17.8 cm) |
| Credit Line | Raymond and Laura Wielgus Collection, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University |
| Accession Number | 75.99.4 |
| This artwork is currently on view. | |
Box in the form of an antelope or cow head that has an elongated nose and horns that point forward. Small hands emerge from the top of the head, above the eyes, and grab the horns.
This box was made to hold kola nuts, the bitter, caffeine-containing seeds of the kola tree. In many parts of Africa, kola nuts serve as sacrifices in the spiritual realm and as hospitable gifts to guests and dignitaries. Though much is now missing, brass, a material associated with royalty, once covered the box.
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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"Kola Nut Box in the Form of an Antelope Head | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=75.99.4