Switch, Fly, D88.239

Leather fly whisk. Handle bound with coloured strings/fibre. Each segment separated into three, bound at top with black and white leather. All bound at base with the same. Whisk made of fine cut strands of leather dyed reddish-brown on one side. At back a hard bound section with shorter strands of reddish-brown leather.

Leather work of this type is frequently associated with people of northern/sub-Saharan parts of West Africa. General appearance is type of work/material made by Hausa. Ghana, West Africa (stated as collected near "Accra"). Leather (goat/sheep?) and fibre (plant?). Likely intended as fly whisk. Possibly made for 'tourist' trade. Leather fly whisk. Handle bound with coloured strings/fibre. Each segment separated into three, bound at top with black and white leather. All bound at base with the same. Whisk made of fine cut strands of leather dyed reddish-brown on one side. At back a hard bound section with shorter strands of reddish-brown leather. Though a 'traditional' item and design, items like this have for many years been targeted for sale to visitors/tourists. General appearance is of a well crafted item having received little if any use and in excellent condition. Consistent with documentation on donor would suggest early 1950s. Length = approx. 369mm. —Joel A Vanderburg

Collected from coastal fringe near Accra Ghana