Ivory sculptures: The arrival of the Portuguese on the coast of Sierra Leone led to the relationship between them and the Sapi culture. The Sapi were skilled sculptors and the Portuguese commissioned works to bring back to Europe as souvenirs or as gifts for their patrons. Many of the objects the Sapi sculpted for the Portuguese come from the objects the Europeans had brought with them. One example is a saltcellar. Salt was very important in Europe and the Portuguese probably had brought some with them for the Sapi to base the design from. This saltcellar depicts Sapi women alongside European men gathered around for prayer. The relief of the crocodiles on the lid is an important image of the Sapi culture.
Saltcellar, Sapi, c. 1490-1530. Ivory. Height 13 1/4". The British Museum, London.
Visona, Monica Blackmun, Robin Poyner, and Herbert M. Cole. A History of Art in Africa
Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Education, Inc., 2008: 171
Saltcellar, Sapi, c. 1490-1530. Ivory. Height 13 1/4". The British Museum, London.
Visona, Monica Blackmun, Robin Poyner, and Herbert M. Cole. A History of Art in Africa
Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Education, Inc., 2008: 171