Sapi-Portuguese Saltcellar

This is the base of a 16th century ivory saltcellar or box. A series of figures can be seen surrounding the base, and supporting the bowl. The British Museum records refer to this as Afro-Portuguese, a term used to indicate items from Sierra Leone and Nigeria, made for a Portuguese market in the 15th and 16th centuries. Such items display a mixture of African and European elements and motifs in their overall form and ornamentation, and were considered prestige items across Europe. A more specific term for items patronised in Sierra Leone, is Sapi-Portuguese.

Further Information

• Type: Ivories
• Object: Sapi-Portuguese Saltcellar
• Materials: Bone, ivory, tooth
• Culture Group: Bullom, Temne
• Dimensions: 297mm [H]
• Production Date: 1490-1530
• Associated Places: Unknown
• Associated People: Augustus Wollaston Franks
• Museum: British Museum
• Accession Number: BM:Af.170

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