Beads, nuts, metal, fibersexpand_more
The Rebecca and Ben Field Endowment for Art Acquisitionexpand_more 2019.63.1
A Yoruba diviner seizes this oracle chain in the middle and casts it on a wooden board. The half-nuts of the opele tree—which gives its name to this chain—land with either the outside or the inside facing up. Depending on their numbers, a result emerges that the diviners then interprets in light of the problem for which he is consulted. A Christian medallion has been attached to one of the half-nuts. This remarkable addition illustrates the creativity on the part of the ritual specialist in bringing together different belief systems.
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